In the southern plains, including my home state of Oklahoma, some folks are labeled “good people.” Even while speaking in the singular, we say, “He’s good people.” This type of person is always focused on helping others, always available to serve — even in ordinary ways. My cousin and his wife are good people. During […]
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One of the books I’ve been reading this summer is The Divine Dance by Richard Rohr. It’s one of those “I borrowed this from the library, but I need to just buy one for myself so I can keep chewing on it.” With his usual writing style of poetic rhythm merged with contemplative reflection, Rohr
Working in the garden always seems to trigger a sense of spirituality. An idea for a devotion, a poem, a story or as in this case — a blog post. Perhaps it is my connection with nature as a form of worshipping God. Or maybe it is the opportunity to reflect when doing nothing more
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It happens quickly. We’re marching along in life, then one day we wake up as a ‘senior.’ No one has called us a senior since high school. Somehow, the label does not fit. This senior status is different from the excitement of high school. It feels more like an ending, the foreshadowing of goodbye. Suddenly,
Finding Hope Day by Day Read More »
Several times in the past months, I have shared with friends and clients one of my key principles for life. I discovered it years ago while reading The Hallelujah Factor by Jack R. Taylor. To describe it simply, this practice centers around the focus of gratitude. It changed my life by flipping my mindset. Many
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My deck umbrella waves in the slight spring wind as I sit under its shade. God has granted a beautiful morning and time for reflection. So beautiful outside yet not so lovely within. Still struggling with grief and questions about ‘tomorrow.’ Disgusted with myself that I cannot find even a drop of joy when I
Finding Hope through Singing Read More »
It would be so much easier to travel the shorter journey. But what if God calls us to the long way? In Exodus 13, God begins to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Freedom! And God encouraged the people with a cloud each day and a pillar of fire each night. Signals that he was
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My hometown recently hosted an author festival. Thirty authors set up their tables, complete with vertical displays, dishes of candy and an assortment of books. After I set up my table, I roamed through the library and visited with the other authors. This library was the modern version of the old Carnegie library where I
When it happens, it feels like a gift, a treasure to be guarded. Sometimes, I can read faces. This gifting started during a time when I worked for a nonprofit which helped women who had been abused. All sorts of abuse at different times in their lives. Their faces mirrored the pain, horror and sadness.
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The celebration of Easter this year felt bittersweet. Although I enjoyed the holiday — who doesn’t love bunnies, colored eggs and the excited squeals of children when they wake up to find an Easter basket? Easter falls smack in the middle of one of the most beautiful seasons in Kansas. When life bursts from the