For several years, I have wanted to do this one special thing. Finally this year, I accomplished it. This feat was not a joyous bucket list fulfillment but rather a moment to honor loss. On Memorial Day, I clipped a couple of hydrangea blossoms from my container garden, wrapped their stems in a wet paper …
While watching the DVD of “Eat Pray Love” and minding my own business – the divine whisper spoke. “Womb.” Womb? What could that mean – for me – now? Only later, while journaling through my day did the interpretation penetrate the fog of my questioning. While in this recovery mode, I am floating in God’s …
“True prayer is neither a mere mental exercise nor a vocal performance. It is far deeper than that – it is spiritual transaction with the Creator of Heaven and Earth.” ~ Charles Spurgeon For many years, I was a student of prayer. With every new book about prayer that was published, I visited the library …
I love to find something that has been discarded and repurpose it. Sometimes it’s a piece of furniture from a dumpster find, a pot made from an old bowl or a scarf that becomes a wall hanging. My repurposing gift probably stems from growing up on a farm and “making do” with whatever we had. DIY …
This is the first year I will not call her on Mother’s Day. What’s the use? She cannot hear what I say. She will not remember it is Mother’s Day. She does not care about the passage of time. Each day is the same as the day before. She waits in the world of Alzheimer’s …
We have recently celebrated Holy Week with its tragic Friday event and the victorious Resurrection Sunday. But the day in the middle – the silent Saturday – lives on in many of our lives. It must have been the darkest day for those early believers. Their Savior was dead and the resurrection was only a …
When security officials train employees for active shooter situations, they present three options: Run – get out of the building and run away – fast Hide – blockade the door to your room and hide inside Fight – if you cannot run or hide, be prepared to disarm, injure or kill the shooter Unfortunately in …
She seems more content now with her life in assisted living, but the contentment itself tears her farther away from family. Have I mentioned how much I hate Alzheimer’s? Several weeks ago, I drove 250 miles to be with family – a precious time with siblings, extended family at a reunion and quality time with …
It takes a while to stop spinning. Like a tire with loosened lug nuts, the wheel spinning around its axis, the transition from full-time ministry into semi-retirement spins. The slowing down requires intentional rest. To be intentionally still – listening for God or just sitting in the sunshine causes a need for reboot. How can …
A few weeks ago, I met another one – an injured saint completely exhausted from serving God and others. These wounded warriors seem to surface everywhere I go: former staff from a well-known nonprofit who are expected to pray 24/7 until they drop. Missionaries fatigued from the struggle of cross cultural shock, language study and …