What We Leave Behind

“But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have become convinced of, because you know those from whom you learned it” 2 Timothy 3:14 On the wall above my desk hangs a picture that delights me.  It was painted by Dorothy Dowler, a prolific artist, musician and …

Can’t We Just Get Along?

“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” Romans 12:18 I was told that Christians are cowards.  They have created an “eternal life” mythology because they fear the finality of death.  The atheist who confronted me with this issue literally hated believers …

The Stories We Tell

“Let the redeemed of the LORD tell their story…” Psalm 107:2a When my dad was a young pastor in the 1950s, he and Mom accepted another couple’s invitation for a fishing trip.  The four of them spent a day at the lake on a borrowed houseboat.  As self-proclaimed angling experts, …

Self-Expression: the Art of Being Uniquely Me

“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made…” Psalm 139:14 This morning, a link in my phone’s newsfeed opened an article about home decorating mistakes. I scanned the list out of curiosity. Predictable stuff – too many throw pillows, wrong color choices, outdated trends, unnecessary bric-a-brac, etc., etc. …

About Grief

I’m learning this about grief – you don’t get over it.  You absorb it into yourself.  Grief becomes a fact of your life, an integral part of your story.  Instead of moving past it, you learn to co-exist with it as a new state of normalcy.  To do that, it …

The Gift of Simple Rest

It’s Friday, ending the first week of a new semester.  Our district started the school year with 30 faculty and staff members out, having either tested positive for Covid-19 or in quarantine for direct exposure to it.  But I don’t want to talk about it.  My mind is weary of …

Bucket List Experiences

“Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained in the way of righteousness.” Prov. 16:31 As my parents progressed through their 80s, they became more proactive about addressing items on their bucket list. Within that decade, they ticked off cruises through the Panama Canal, Alaska coast and Amazon …

Empty Nest

“I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him.” 1 Sam. 1:27 They were just here, and now they’re gone. My house and heart were full for three weeks. Two daughters, one son-in-law, six grandkids, an exchange student, and a Jack Russell Terrier. …