An Answer to Why I Live in Future Fear
My friend shared with me this video that I had seen last year and had forgotten (thank you, Katie!). It’s Dr. Brene Brown’s interview with Oprah on the terror of joy. You must watch it! It will change you! Click here for the video: http://www.oprah.com/own-super-soul-sunday/Dr-Brene-Brown-on-Joy-Its-Terrifying-Video. What I loved about this video is that Dr. Brown provides […]
Healing from Your Future
Today I seek help for how much I’m dwelling on future catastrophes that haven’t even happened yet. I’m worried that my children will get in accidents and perish. I’m imagining scenarios about my future life and finding myself filled with fear, sorrow, and anxiety for events that have not even happened. It’s interesting to note […]
Most College Freshmen Can’t Remember 9-11
For the most part, college freshmen cannot remember the events of 9-11. They were five or six years old. For the first time as a professor, I’m remembering for them. Only a few–the ones who lived in Manhattan–remember any vivid details. Most remember being picked up from kindgergarten and adults gathered around the television all […]
Slow, Subtle Change
My friend and I walk about 3 miles, 3 times a week. We’ve been walking only 17 days. We started slowly–16 minute miles–but then improved our time to 13 minute miles. Then, after all this time, we now run for 1/2 a mile. We have grand plans for the future! Who knows where we’ll end […]
You Will–When It’s Worth It to You
Yesterday, I abandon my raspberry harvesting because the bees and thorns are too much for me. “It’s not worth it today,” I say, sadly eyeing the lush raspberries deep in the patch. I turn and go back into the house. Today, my older daughter–fresh from middle school and exhausted to her core–asks for a vanilla-raspberry […]
It’s 3:00 PM and I Haven’t Paid Attention All Day
Normally by noon, the day explodes with moments of flair: acorns, late-blooming flowers, unusual creatures, brilliant comments from children, weather observations, or spiritual principles in dust or vacuums or toenails. On days that I set my mind to the task of wonder–of really paying attention–the day’s treasures spread out like this. There’s something to learn […]
Your Story of His Goodness
All weekend, I’ve heard incredible stories of God’s goodness to folks. I remember the verse from Psalm 31:19: “How great is your goodness which you have stored up for those who fear you, which you bestow in the sight of men!” It speaks of a current display of goodness (in the sight of men) coming […]
Oh, the Humidity!
The humidity makes it feel as if we’re wading through the air. We stay warm because the conditions mean our skin’s evaporative cooling process cannot work as quickly. As a result, we feel sticky and heavy. We’re in an environment that makes us not work correctly. My daughter and I walk in the forest to […]
Lightheartedness
Today I remember the blessing of childhood and the lightheartedness of it. Lighthearted means “cheerful and free from care.” I think about the little children in my home–even though one is almost a teenager!–and I feel we’ve all been more serious and work-minded than cheerful and carefree. We have our lists and our activities, our […]
It’s Because It’s True About You
Today I remember C.S. Lewis’ argument in Mere Christianity that what annoys us most about others–what we can hardly tolerate in them–often reflects something true about ourselves as well. That’s why we can notice it so quickly. That’s why we hate it. C.S. Lewis writes about pride, for example, that “the more we have it […]