Author: Carla Romarate-Knipel

Ever since I was a child, I enjoyed reading and writing. Perhaps it was because my parents were great storytellers and voracious readers. As soon as I learned to write (yes I did it in cursive like everybody else did then!) I started a diary. When I was nine years old I sent a letter to my Dad who was an overseas contract worker in Guam. I wrote it in a form of a comic book and illustrated it myself. As a student at the Central Philippine University Elementary School, I was the Filipino literary editor of our school paper, the Mini Echo. To this day I was baffled by that because I was not that good in Filipino! In highs school I served as literary editor in the Central High Herald. I began to write poems and short stories that unfortunately I don't have any copies saved because we didn't have computers and flash drives then. II joined a short story writing contest sponsored by Central echo, CPU's college paper some time in the 1980's. I joined because I needed money to buy a new pair of sandals. My short story was titled, "Leaves," and it won first place! The chief judge was Prof. Alfredo Q. Gonzales, author of the classic essay, "The Will of a River," one of my favorite reads of Filipino literature in English. I did a lot of writing in college/seminary and graduate school but the most fun I had was when I was writing poems and short stories. Fast forward to the 21st century, I now write sermons every week and articles for our monthly news letter. Currently I serve as Senior Pastor of Central Baptist Church of Woodbury in Woodbury, New Jersey, U.S.A. This is my twelfth year at CBC, where my husband and I served as co-interim pastors from 2010 through 2012. We have a 19-year old son who is a college freshman, and my technical adviser in all things digital. In this continuing writing adventure I am thankful to God for giving me the inspiration to write and the joy that goes with it. I hope that my poems, prayers and prose inspire joy in my readers.

First day of spring and you

On the first day of spring

two decades and 4 years ago

I remember…

I remember you

walking towards me 

looking dashing in your beige barong

smiling and saying, “Hello, I believe

we’ve met earlier…”

Yes, I remember your voice

strong but gentle, 

commanding attention, 

but allowing spaces of silence 

to listen with full attention —

Yes, I remember your eyes,

the color of the sea, deep green, 

shining with amusement 

quietly taking in my words 

spoken in response to your revelation

that you were not just a minister

you were a lawyer, too.

Yes, I remember my unfiltered,

unapologetic reply –

that night at the Luce Library,

“I don’t like lawyers much!”

You just stood there gazing at me

and letting me chatter on 

like a defense attorney making her case

why you should walk away now 

while you can.

But you didn’t. 

You stayed 

and listened …

and at the end of my lengthy opening statement, 

we both knew, 

you had won 

the most important case 

in your life, 

you had won 

my heart.

  • Carla Romarate-Knipel

Time to be still

Musee D’Orsay
Paris, France
August 2019

(photo by Carla Romarate-Knipel)

A new year has begun

My feet wants to keep going

But my heart desires to be still.

Within me a clock is ticking

Not fast or hurried, but steady

It is saying, you can be still

And keep going.

Stillness does not mean stuckness

Stillness can be active courage

Willing to remain calm and focused

Even when so many things are screaming for my attention.

Time to be still is good

At the beginning of the new year

It is necessary.

In stillness you take a deep breath

Before you take the next step:

You notice

You pay attention

And then you go on …

until it’s time

To be still again.

By Carla A. Romarate-Knipel

January 5, 2026

Children Once Again

By Carla A. Romarate-Knipel

A rainy day in Woodbury, New Jersey

We were all young once

we skipped, we hopped, we danced

raced and ran

climbed trees, gazed at the sky,

wishing we could fly

and touch the stars.

Then we grew up, grew older

lost most of the awe and wonder

legs no longer strong and agile

our vision clouded, unable to see

beyond the haze of mortality’s doom.

Somewhere in between

the joy and the gloom –

a voice calls out an invitation

“Follow me…”

we hear a knocking

on the door of our hearts

the Lord of all Life

the Lord of the Dance

waiting to come in.

Anyone who opens the door

skipping, hopping, running

limping, shuffling, trudging

to let this Holy Guest in

will meet the Light of Lights,

who parts the clouds of doubt

to let the glory shine –

we become children once again

now and forevermore.

The Way of the Cross

By Carla Romarate-Knipel

Central Baptist Church of Woodbury, New Jersey

       Holy Week is almost here, and among followers of Jesus and Christian churches around the world, clergy and congregations are preparing to celebrate the joyful celebration of Jesus’s resurrection. The way to Easter Sunday’s jubilation, however, is the suffering, humiliation, torture, and execution of Jesus on the cross at Golgotha. He expected this to happen and freely walked this path, but not without struggle and faltering. In his divinity, Jesus was fully obedient to his heavenly Father. In his humanity, he cried out to him at the garden of Gethsemane, “Father … if you will, take this cup from me.” His divinity rose above his human hesitation when he added, “Not my will, however, but your will be done.” (Luke 22:42). The response of his heavenly Father was to send an angel from heaven to strengthen him. (Luke 22:43). This divine-human struggle that Jesus went through and the angelic visitation occurred while he was in prayer prior to his arrest.

What am I learning from this vignette in Jesus’s life? 

First, he prepared for his via dolorosa, his path of suffering and death, by praying and pouring out his heart to God. He did this the whole night, and he was fully present and awake. I may not have the same perseverance and presence of Jesus, but I can ask him to help me be present to him as I pray and walk on the way of the cross.

Second, Jesus was honest and expressed his struggles with God. He didn’t hide them or minimize them. Even his body sweating with perspiration that looked like “drops of blood” showed his inner turmoil. I, too, need to be honest with God and trust that Jesus will help me to accept God’s will even when it involves suffering and pain.

Third, God sent an angel to strengthen Jesus. This brings me great comfort. I am not alone. God, through Jesus and the Holy Spirit, is with me. God’s messengers (seen and unseen) are sent to support me so I can rest and be refreshed for the journey ahead.

     Today, as I make my way towards the cross and eventually to the empty tomb, I pray with honesty and trust that God will send me an angel to strengthen me. I pray that for all who walk this path, all who are suffering because of their faithful companionship with Jesus may receive strength and comfort not only this Holy Week but every day here on earth while we await with joyful anticipation for Jesus’s final coming in his Risen and glorious majesty.

Amen.

Pause for Poetry – Haiku series

Latté break – Whole and Grounded Café (Woodbury, NJ, U.S.A.)

“Longing”

dear love, how are you?
i’m staring at the empty
chair — waiting for you

to show up, perhaps
in my latté’s aroma
wafting to my nose

straight to my sad heart —
mingling with my lonely breath,
your love bringing warmth.

in the eternal
NOW — will you come dance with me,
take me in your arms?

  • CRK pandaypulong 10.18.24