In every direction, a mountain range graces the Irish skyline. The ancient peaks are rounded and clothed with patchwork vests of tan grasses, green forests, and pink heather. Distinct borders set aside each odd shaped patch of color from its neighbor. These borders are built of stones cleared from fields and stacked vertically, or more …
“Sit right here and take this clicker. Now lean forward and place your chin here.” I did as I was told, gripping the clicker and adjusting my head to fit the chin cup in front of a PC-sized, convex screen. “Do you see a light in the center of the bowl?” “Yes.” “Good. Keep your …
Searching for a lost list, I unexpectedly landed in a completely different world. I found my writings after Mother died of cancer in 2010. Their raw emotion, untidied by literary rules, transported me to bloody battles with me as the enemy on both sides. Mothers’ Day falls this coming weekend. That journal resurfacing now seems …
I do not regard myself as having laid hold of it yet; but one thing I do: forgetting what lies behind and reaching forward to what lies ahead, I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus…. Let us keep living by that same standard to …
What we have heard, what we have seen with our eyes, what we have looked at and touched with our hands, concerning the Word of Life— and the life was manifested, and we have seen and testify and proclaim to you the eternal life, which was with the Father and was manifested to us—what we have …
A sand piper needling the sand trots in a fast staccato along the edge of the gulf’s waters. With uncanny intuition he gauges the breaking and receding waves, scuttling back and forth. As I watch I fear that this time the little creature will be caught and dragged into deep water, but as always, …
“Chip. Chip. Chip. Chip.” “Teacher, teacher. Teacher, teacher, teacher.” I scanned the tree branches searching for the bird with its unmistakeable calls. Ah, there he is, so easy to spot with bright red plumage. Cardinals make me feel satisfied, because they’re the one bird I can always identify. I call him, Mr. Cardinal, and he …
Tomorrow Lent begins. Drum roll……………….Will you participate this year? Lent is like Advent. In Advent, we try to wrap our minds around God entering our world as a vulnerable baby. Wow. In Lent, we mull over this God/Man, Jesus, remaining vulnerable to death so we can enter new life. Lent seems to have a pall …
Two women sat on couches, feet curled underneath and warming their hands on mugs. “You should try painting. I heard it helps with writing.” “Poo. I can’t even draw, my stick figures are pathetic.” “I know just the thing! One of those catalogs of DVD classes came in the mail yesterday, and Beginning Drawing is …
Three women at a corner table in a cafe pray over salads. They discuss current projects and catch up on their families. When the coffee arrives, Ansley poses a question. “Do either of you have new year’s resolutions?” Leslie answers first, “I make goals more than resolutions.” “What’s the difference?” Sharyn asks. “Goals don’t have …
With the popularity of comic book characters, you’ve probably thought of what superpower you’d like to have. The ability to fly is high on most peoples’ lists. Time travel and instantaneous distance travel would be pretty nifty too. My choice, however, would be the ability to remember. Wouldn’t you love to keep neat files in …
I mumble when people ask about how Lent is going. I promoted preparing for Easter, but this year I’m bombing it. How could I have allowed Lent to gather lint? God is teaching me this season but not through my Lenten intention as He has in the past. I wrote about His authority over my …