I Suppose I Had Been Worried
My COVID-19 test returned negative less than 24 hours later. I was so relieved! I supposed I didn’t realize how worried I was. After all, I’ve been teaching residentially in a hot spot for over six weeks. I’m on campus 3 times a week; I’ve been in grocery stores; and I’ve even been in Pittsburgh […]
Sitting and Listening and an Update
Lately, students come to my Zoom office hours to talk. It’s wonderful. I sit and listen. I ask all my good questions. I see their dorm rooms or apartments from the square on my screen. I notice that it doesn’t feel so odd anymore. It’s a cozy time as the wind blows outside in the […]
The Home Scents of Autumn: Homemade Simmer Spices
I’ve been making my own mulling spices—or technically simmer spices— for years. I love humidifying my kitchen, too, to help ease the dryer air of both autumn and winter seasons. The house smells so good! This Sunday, I added my favorite combination of ingredients to create the perfect simmer pot: I cut up one orange […]
A Visit to Pittsburgh
Underground Secrets
Well, I find evidence of voles in my yard. Before I realize the damage they can inflict on my young Plumcot tree, I find myself enchanted by their network of secret tunnels. What do they do in there? I imagine the cozy warmth of it. I imagine an entire underground network of secret living. I […]
Breakfast Motivation
I discovered a Pumpkin Spiced Pancake recipe that I love! It’s from Bakerita right here: https://www.bakerita.com/gluten-free-vegan-pumpkin-pancakes/ Enjoy!!
The Blocked Path
My little flair moment came early this morning as I complained about my blocked path from the parking structure to my campus classroom. The sidewalks were completely blocked! As I followed the detour signs that would force me away from my route and lengthen my journey on foot, I paused to glance down. And there? […]
When You No Longer Have Time to Get Nervous
Something I love about this fresh season of work and opportunity involves being just busy enough that I don’t have time to overthink or get nervous about certain events. Radio interviews, giving talks over Zoom, teaching, and joining various social media events has become part of the schedule of the day. I like it! It’s […]
The Lens of Good Gifts
Over the years, I’ve learned to scan the day for evidence of God’s good gifts. It’s a way of interpreting the day through the lens of God’s goodness. He’s always working to bring good about, but we need to look. We need to open our eyes to it. With the frosty evenings, I’ve now harvested […]
Part of Our Spiritual Training
I read a curious little parentheses in Judges 3 before church this morning. We read about how the Lord left a few opposing nations near the Israelites to train this new generation and test their hearts. The verse says this divine tactic was “for all those Israelites who had not experienced any of the wars […]