In ministry and life I've seen a some hard things. Some have been difficult things for me personally so many others have been the excruciating things other people have had to endure. I could name them all from work to relationships to financial troubles to church woes, or our mental and physical health issues, but… Continue reading The Golden Thread
It's just a simple wisp of an idea; one gentle thought. Author Cheryl Strayed brought it to my mind in a little book of her own quotes, Brave Enough. Put yourself in the way of beauty, she writes. That's it. She gives a whole page surrounded by white space to those seven words. It reminds… Continue reading Watch Where You Put Yourself
Seven years ago today I suddenly, unexpectedly lost a friend, a colleague, my boss, the senior pastor of our church. In that one day, many things changed for many of us. For me, it began a seven year journey of challenges that are best described as a series of gut punches. As today dawned, I… Continue reading Heartache and Light
Have you ever had something so painful or traumatic happen to you that you are afraid of revisiting it? I've recently been wrestling with just such a thing and I quietly asked God about it. "Should I even open that drawer?" And the silent whisper in my spirit that was not me, answered back, "Yes,… Continue reading Surely There’s a Saltine Somewhere
This weekend was another happy college football weekend for our family, if you don't count the outcome of the game. It was especially delicious for us because all our children were there, our son-in-law, our grandson, other relatives and lots of friends, old and new. Football weekends are always very busy and loud with cannons,… Continue reading Breaking News
So many things to feel right now. Last week (was that only last week?) began with an eclipse in North American that captured our attention for a while. That pleasantly distracted us from the difficulties and horror of Charlottesville before that. Then, seemingly out of nowhere Hurricane Harvey ripped into Texas and is still planted… Continue reading No Words: Just Prayers
Anne Lamott is one of my favorite writers. She just posted a new blog. It came to me as a lovely Monday morning gift, echoing what I was already feeling today. Her words, "So life. It's the whole deal. Mixed grille all the way, gorgeous and sad things all mixed up. Us, at our best… Continue reading It’s Springtime, But…
