As a life coach going through the certification process, I learned about the power of open-ended questions. If we ask the right questions, people will often figure out the source of the problem. They may even come up with the best solution all by themselves. In the past with various religious experiences, we were told …
During a recent trip to New Mexico and the Sangre de Cristo Mountains, we searched for deer. Every time someone in the family saw a deer, we cheered. We called to them, hoping to pet them or maybe feed them some leftover crackers. The deer are a special fixture in the mountains, a cherished part …
As we celebrate the Fourth of July and the freedoms of the United States of America, we also reflect on the personal freedoms we have grown to appreciate. The practice of freedom changes during the various demographics of life. As children, our freedoms are decided for us by adults who are supposed to be wiser …
Someone recently asked me, “What do you do to find rest?” My oxymoron reply, “I have to intentionally work to find rest.” Except for the times when life throws me in bed with an illness or unresolved grief, I have to plan for rest. My strong work ethic was forged on the family farm where …
Words pour out of me—a torrent of expression and emotion. Stories, articles, journal rantings, blog posts. Revisions three or four times, then a sending of the results to editors, publishers, agents. This writing is how I process grief. How I find my way through the valley and back to life. Future joy is hidden within …
In her best-selling book, Moving On, Sarah Ban Breathnach lists the seven senses. The usual five we know: sight, sound, touch, taste, and smell. But then she adds Knowledge and Wonder. Knowledge is self-explanatory, except when we experience that special knowing based on intuition and spiritual electricity. A working definition of ‘wonder’ is “Surprise mingled …
Recently, I attended an event where I sat at a table with several older women. Lovely women—all of them. Accomplished and happy within their retirement status. But as they began the recital of their health challenges, I realized I was the only one at the table with my original hips and knees. Thank you, God …
“Do not let your heart be troubled” (John 14:1). The Amplified version describes this ‘troubling’ as being ‘distressed, agitated, fearful, disturbed, intimidated, or unsettled.’ Quite a list of troubling adjectives. And sometimes, each of them describes how I feel. The real problem comes when they all bundle together to make a giant troubled heart. We …
As my son deposited his first check from a ‘real’ job, I encouraged him to give some away. “Even if you think you don’t have enough to spare, give anyway. You’ll discover God’s math is different from our math. He can make money multiply out of nothing.” Through the years, I have underscored this principle …
A good friend recently reminded me to check out Philippians 4:6. Those of us who have lived a lifetime of faith-walking sometimes forget the most elemental principles. We need to be reminded—and often—of how to continue growing as disciples, even if we are now at the point of discipling others. The section I focused on …