Advent ponders Jesus first and second comings. Thinking about God coming as a babe makes me smile, but I rarely think about Jesus’ second coming. Usually that comes to mind when I’m weary of politics and violence or my failure to live faithfully. In those instances, I’m eager for “every knee to bow and every …
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 …
For my first splash into watercoloring, I painted a sunset. After the paint dried, I thought to paint a sunrise opposite the sunset, because at every sunset, the sun rises for people on the opposite side of the world. What a thought! Those twin events are distinguishable only by differing perspectives. Could they be different …
The wheel of busyness spun faster and faster until it threw me off, and I landed in bed with the flu. My head felt like a pumpkin and my body lit like a flair, but the flu was a gift from God to liberate me from the pace of life. God’s pace is an interesting …
Spring break has been rocking in our backyard. The music has been gloriously loud, so much chatter that I don’t mind being an observer instead of a participant. Just listen to the audio file above while you read. Robins dominate the crowd in number, but cardinals and other small songbirds chime in above the hubbub. …
Tori and I walked into the nave. A stand holding laminated cards which chronicled the history of the church blocked the center of the aisle. We each took one, then began reading and searching out the details described in the literature. After a few moments, I whispered to Tori that I wanted to move deeper …
Six hikers collapsed on the tundra. Throughout our foray winding up the mountain on switchbacks through boreal forests, munching lunch on a summit, then knee-jarring our way back down, I repeated every fact our guide, Ryan, described. He introduced us to plants and animals as he would old acquaintances, giving their names accompanied by …
My husband rustles in the closet. I forbid my eyelids to lift, and I dive back into my dreams. “If you get dressed and go vote with me, I’ll take you to breakfast.” I whip off the covers and sit up. “Bagelheads or McDonalds, whichever place you want to go.” Bagel head’s glorious morning muffin …
Should I or Shouldn’t I? My sister-in-law had planned the menus, pre-marinated, pre-cut, and prepared the food. My brother navigated our paths down dirt roads criss-crossing the brush to fishing ponds and sunset watching locations. My only decision was choosing between boots and athletic shoes. That was the extent of pressure weighing me for 42 …
I have an uninvited companion. His name is Death. He barged in and dragged off my mother, my father, my in-laws, and pets in short order then came back with his luggage to stay. At first, I fought him like mad by flailing at others. “This feels so WRONG.” I accused God. “Are you really …
LORD of Birds and Questions On my morning walk in the neighborhood, I head south on Oceola Avenue and the sun burns like a campfire on my left cheek. The low elevation of this street prevents development on three contiguous lots, so grasses sweep down from the road to the bayou, framing an inspiring view. …
A tropical storm is simmering in the Caribbean Ocean, and its forecast track edges westward then eastward but always northward, where I sit at my keyboard. The thought of a hurricane electrifies my mood. On one hand, it’s exciting to anticipate the power that can blow down an oak tree with a girth larger than …