I was pondered all that I had to be thankful for on this annual 4th Thursday in November, set aside for just such thinking. With the swirling tides of 2020 pulling at me, it was a real effort to not get swept away in doubt, cynicism, anger and even a touch of self-righteousness. Taking a […]
Purpose – It’s simpler than we make it.
By
Purpose. What were we put on earth for? Did God simply plunk us down without an instruction manual, just a cheery ‘good luck!’? Almost 20 years ago Rick Warren wrote one of the bestselling non-fiction books of all time – The Purpose Driven Life – in an effort to answer these very questions. In small […]
Lenses on Race
By
I have been intentionally engaging in difficult/uncomfortable conversations, attempting to better understand the escalated racial tension in our nation. Finding folks willing, even eager, to talk is easy, especially if you agree with them and they with you. The challenge has been to engage with those espousing different perspectives. The result? A minor revelation – […]
Questions – revisited
By
I have started to occasionally wake up very early again, or you might call it late. No doubt the current state of the world coupled with my own economic uncertainty coupled with my family’s uncertainties all contribute. Like almost everyone, I have a lot of questions and like almost everyone, I have a frustrating lack […]
Isolation, Solitude & Kindness
By
It rained hard last night, only letting up well after dawn. My long anticipated golf game was washed out, so I decided on a long hike instead. Traipsing along on my return leg, I noticed a single set of distinctive prints in the moist earth. Taking a step back, I realized they were mine! I’m […]
Baby Steps
By
So much for a regular blog post! Rather than beating myself up over it, I will simply start with a baby step. Just. Start. Small. I am reaching out. One thing I learned well during my breast cancer journey (yet seem to have forgotten) is how good the written word was for my mental health […]
Musing in this COVID-19 Season
By
4.6.2020 It has been over a month since we began hearing the term “Coronavirus” nearly every day. It seemed harmless enough at the time…like the flu. The immediate impact on the beer company’s stock seemed a bit drastic and then the cancellations of Spring Break 2020 started to make this thing personal. Covid-19 soon became […]
Strength – Two Day’s Reflections
By
I wrote a few personal journal entries this past week and decided to share them in succession in hopes they may encourage you in some way today. Tuesday I am so noticing that when I actually carve out 5-15 minutes of time early each morning and simply worship and root my day in the truth […]
Joy and Perfection
By
You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb. You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed. Psalm 139:15-16 NLT I didn’t […]
Made My Day
By
It was the first day of classes at the Christian school where I work and Piper and I were out for a walk before the sun was up. Amy and Sara were in Ames, getting ready for the first day of classes and checking out the sorority recruitment process. Maybe it was the heat and […]
