The caller ID showed a familiar number, so I answered it. “Can you come to the church office? We have something for you.” Something for me? Did I forget my Bible at church? No. My journal? Nay, nay. As I entered the office, the administrative assistant handed me a box. “It’s really heavy. Can you […]
Perhaps it is the coming of winter that causes moments of reflection. Or the new journal I use to record my thoughts. Or the writer in me who MUST write in order to process life. Whatever the origin, my reflection turns to a time-honored quote. Samuel Taylor Coleridge reminds us how the Jews honored the
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He did not know me, and I had never met him. But we shared the usual exchange. “Cash, please. Twenties and tens.” “Date of birth?” The guy at the bank window hurried away to check my account and cash my check. I waited in the drive through, listened to “Hymn of Heaven” on Love-88. Then
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“Get some Brasso,” the handyman said. I had never heard of the stuff but found it at the hardware store. Guaranteed to take the tarnish and other gunk off brass and restore the original shine. Less than five bucks to keep the vintage look of my kitchen cabinet hardware. It wasn’t tarnished too badly, but
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One of the best fiction series, in my opinion, is Jan Karon’s Mitford books. Karon does such a good job of crafting this fictional town, it feels like an actual place where I want to live. The main character, Father Tim Kavanagh, presents his wisdom in spades. As the local Episcopal priest, he oversees most
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Stuck. Between the third and fourth chapter of the gazillionth revision of my novel. A segue exists somewhere, but I CANNOT find it. I know it will come…“Somewhere over the rainbow.” But the frustration of the moment calls for a break from writing. A massive piece of comfort chocolate. A gap of time to contemplate
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During this turbulent year of so many worldwide problems, I still do my usual thank you’s: Thank you, God, for the food in my belly. So many people are hungry today. Thank you for the roof over my head. Many are homeless or displaced. Thank you for my son and daughter-in-love … always. Yet now,
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In our crazy world of broken promises, it is soothing to know we can depend on one source of truth. God has never broken any of his covenant promises. Some of his hope-filled words are recorded within the general principles of the Bible. “I will never leave you or forsake you. I will be your
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While meeting with my spiritual director, she suggested I consider the questions, “What if?” In one of the workshops I teach, the “What if?” question is presented as a fear tactic artists sometimes use to procrastinate. But in this instance, I was to think about the “What if?” as a possible direction, even a vision-making
Since God is timeless, it is always a sweet surprise when I discover him working—right on time. A year ago, I bought a lovely journal to add to my stash. Never enough journals for a writer, you know. This particular journal caught my eye because the cover was a quiet country scene with wildflowers and
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