My name is Mark Lloyd Richardson. I am a United Methodist minister, which means that I believe God searches for us when we are lost, goes before us, comes behind us, is the ground beneath us and the breath within us. God is unconditional grace. There is no place we can travel where God is not already present. There is nothing we can discover about ourselves or the world that God doesn’t already know. Other than those beliefs, I don’t claim to know very much.
I am a husband, a father of two young adult children, a stepfather, a brother and brother-in-law, an uncle, a nephew, a cousin, and a son — all of these family relationships mean the world to me! They help me understand who I am.
Life is pure gift! If the only prayer we say is “Thanks,” it is enough!
dreamprayact 
Thank you for sharing your thoughts and experiences in your writings.
You’re welcome, Ilene. Thanks for reading.
I admire your work and your unique voice, and I have nominated you for the Sunshine Award.
If you wish to accept it, there are three steps: post a thank-you and link to my site, answer the seven questions that I answered in my post, and nominate 10 other bloggers you admire. Then enjoy the award on your blog!
Thanks for your efforts. Peace & Grace, “Sister Olive”
Sister Olive,
Thank you for the vote of confidence in my writing, and for your kind words. I enjoy your writing, and I am grateful that you enjoy mine. I hope it is possible to take a little time to consider this award. At this moment, I am not familiar enough with ten other blogs in order to nominate them. If there is a time limitation, that’s okay. I’ll wait for another opportunity.
Again, thanks so much for nominating me!
Peace,
Mark
I doubt that there is a time limit, but it’s all optional. A lot of people don’t accept awards now.
For me, I think of it as a good way to channel some more glory to God.
gifting you with a Sunshine Award….thanks….
I am very grateful that you gifted me with the Sunshine Award! I need to find the time to follow up with it soon. Thanks so much!
Thanks for liking my post today! I absolutely believe in the last line of your About Me post, “Life is a pure gift…”
Thanks, Linda. I look forward to reading more on your blog. Mark
Lovely about me page. Is that picture in Northern California? I used to live in the Monterey area. Looks familiar. I have a story on my blog called: Angel and Mary you might enjoy.
Thank you for visiting my blog, Samantha. The photo at the top is from Montana de Oro State Park near where we lived for 10 years in Los Osos, California (central coast about 3 hours south of Monterey). However, there are a few photos in my posts that are taken in Pacific Grove, because it’s one of our favorite places to visit. In fact, we’ll be there next week, and I’m sure I will be inspired to write something and include photos. My wife Dallis is the photographer for most of the photos in my blog. We are a team.
I look forward to reading your blog too, and will check out the story you mention above. Thanks again. Mark
Thanks for stopping by. I’m following your blog, too. I was raised mostly in PG. (Pacific Grove). Lots of family there. My nano was an Italian fisherman in Monterey; my relatives worked in the canneries. Great to know it’s one of your favorite places. My rich second-cousin owns most of the cannery row land…not closely related, though. bummer! lol Look forward to chatting more.
When we go to Pacific Grove a couple of times a year, we always stay in a cabin near Asilomar, and take long walks enjoying the ever-changing sea and sky. In the past, we’ve always had our little Pomeranian Sadie with us. This time we will be without her for the first time, so it will feel quite different. I’ve written about Sadie in my earlier posts from January.
I think you might want to work on getting to know your second cousin a little better!
Hi Mark, for a bit of fun, I tagged you for ’11 questions’ check it out on my blog!
Dear Mark, your passion for God translates into such a clear tangible passion for His creation. I am humbled, inspired and touched by your understanding, acceptance and values. And Meister Eckhart’s which you so aptly echoed above is also one of my favourites! I look forward to getting to know you and to read your thoughts. Many greetings to your talented wife Dallis! Her photography is stunning! You make a great team! Sharon
You are very kind, Sharon. I will tell Dallis of your appreciation for her photography. We take joy in our individual creative passions, and it is great fun to collaborate in this effort. Peace, Mark
I found you by way of Cynthia’s blog–this is quite lovely: the photo and your words! Always good to find another refreshing faith-based blog–if you’re so inclined, stop by mine! God bless you abundantly.
Thanks for stopping by and commenting. I will take a look at your blog as well. Blessings and peace to you! Mark
Hi Mark! I don’t suppose there’s a short answer to this, but I’ve come back here to confess that I really struggle with the fundamentalist position about homosexuality. As I said earlier, I believe in the Bible–it’s God’s Word, and I don’t presume to argue with Him. But I’m also fairly convinced that some people are born “different”, gay–and so I’m conflicted. It’s not for me to judge whether or not anything is sin–but that is definitely what many Christians are doing, and feel perfectly okay about it, as they claim the Bible backs them up. And when I’m honest enough to say, “well, I don’t know…”–then they’re on my case because I’m “wrong”, and they practically suggest I’m damned too. You must run into this all the time–is there a good answer? Thank you (no rush, if you’re busy–we already covered that pastors don’t just work on Sunday morning!)
Such a lovely introduction. Your wife’s photo is magnificent as well. Appreciate your visiting my blog as well. Sending good thoughts your way today! RL
Thank you, Robyn, for your kind words. I look forward to visiting your blog more. Blessings and peace, Mark
Thank you so much for coming by and visiting my blog! I’m so pleased to see yours now too and like your thoughtful approach and gracious tone immensely. Your wife’s beautiful photo is a marvelous piece for quiet contemplation as well, and I can certainly see how apropos the name is for the place–and why it’s such a favorite of yours. My husband and I, both longtime Northwesterners (Seattle area) and now living in north Texas, get to revisit the coast in June and are looking forward to it eagerly. We won’t get as far down as the central CA coast, starting instead in Berkeley and heading north from there, but just to be back at the ocean will be a joy. That–followed by family time back up in WA, which as you say, is one of the greatest of delights.
Blessings and peace to you,
Kathryn
Kathryn, Thank you for your thoughtfulness in visiting my blog and commenting here. I’m sure you will enjoy your time on the coast this summer. I am originally from the Northwest – born in Bellingham, and spent the first seven years of my life just north of there. I still have family up there, and have always loved that part of the world. Thanks again for stopping by. I look forward to reading more of your blog too. Peace to you, Mark
Ahhh, Bellingham! I went to Western for my masters’–would have stayed if I could have found work. What, did your parents move to Sumas or some such? 😉
Peace, K
Everson, and I had grandparents in both Nooksack and Lynden, as well as cousins on a nearby farm. Such a beautiful landscape, and I’ve always been especially fond of Mt. Baker. My father got his bachelor’s degree at Western, and then our family moved several times, eventually settling near Chicago.
Oh Mark, i am so there with you — God is within, goes before, goes behind, is beneath, is above, is around…yes, that’s all i know. The “indwelling” of the Divine – within me, within this world, within each other. It’s all holy. No one religion has the monopoly on truth. My family, too, remind me of who I am. My little ones are my greatest teachers! I look forward to reading more of your writings and musings. Many many blessings, Lisa
Oh and by the way…I love the name of your blog…”dream, pray, act”… We dream (ie listening to the delights of our hearts ALREADY planted there/whispered into being there by the Divine), we pray to connect to those dreams (of who we know we are looong before we are birthed) and then we act when we feel the movement within us to bring our dreams and prayers out into the world. YES!
Lisa,
I discovered your blog through Gina’s latest post on “Professions for Peace,” and I knew we had ways of seeing the world through a poet’s eyes in common. Thanks for taking the time to come by and take a look at my blog, and for your very kind words. I look forward to more interaction as we each continue sharing our thoughts through this venue. The world needs our prayers and dreams to be fleshed out through action.
Peace, Mark
Mark,
Your blog is wonderful. I love your team approach using visual images with your words, that you and your wife create just beautifully.
Glad to ‘meet’ you! Janet
I am so glad to discover your blog–such beautiful words and pictures. I look forward to seeing more and praying along with you!
It’s nice to meet you, April. I’m glad you found my blog, and I look forward to looking at yours as well. Peace, Mark
Hi Mark,
I hope it is not too late to wish you a wonderful New Year. May 2013 bring you more happiness, love, and success. I would like to thank you because you keep following my blog. I hope my blog posts do not disappoint and that your visits in there have been a joyful ride.
Thank you again, many blessings and much love to you. 🙂
Subhan Zein
Lovely blog. I have a sense of who you are and what you are about from the look of your blog, your writing/sharing, and esp. your poetry. Thanks for following Drawing Sacred Circles. I appreciate it.
Naomi, I look forward to reading more of your blog. I loved the photos and worship ideas.
BTW, I just posted your blog on my Facebook page.
Thank you. That was very kind of you. Blessings, Mark
Thank you so much for visiting and following my blog!