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.

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

Pause for Poetry – Café Scribblings

“Rhetorical”

Can one day
change the rest of my life?
Can three words
bring me to a place I’ve never been?
Can “hello” echo forever
and never say good-bye?

Can you be gone but still stay –
… in my heart,
… my memories,
till the end of my days?
Can the sound of your voice
linger …
in whispers of sweet-somethings,
secret words
only we know?

Can I move forward –
with the rest of my life
not leaving you behind?
Can I open my heart
to new possibilities …
trusting God and you
are always
with me?

  • Carla Romarate-Knipel
    10.12.24