Singleness of Heart and Action
It all starts again next week. This time, I teach juniors and seniors. We begin with professional materials that include résumés, cover letters, and personal mission statements. I love personal mission statements for their particular simplicity; they state in a concise sentence or two what a person devotes themselves to in his or her field […]
God’s Mercy. . . In Whatever Form It Takes
I’ve always thought that God simply cannot resist us when we appeal to His tender mercy. We cry out. He answers. He loves to show us His great mercy. I read over and over again about this “God who is rich in mercy” and how the Psalmist prays that God’s “mercy [will come] quickly to […]
If You Would Have Told Me Twenty Years Ago
If you would have told me twenty years ago that I could carry a phone with me that fits in my pocket, I would have laughed at you. If you would have told me twenty years ago that I could look at my phone and see your face talking to me, I would have said […]
Grieving Your Limits
I learned this past year that emotionally mature people know how to grieve their limits. I remember this today as I decide I just cannot attempt the Sushi Cupcakes for my daughter’s birthday. In years past, I managed the Hamburger Cupcakes, the Green Apple Cupcakes, and even the Ice Cream Cone Cupcakes. But I’ve reached […]
Too Good to Be True
I place my bird feeder outside, and within minutes the Northern Cardinals come. They spy on the banquet: doubting, cautious, suspicious. It’s too good to be true. A feast? Here? Now? Just when all the winter berries are gone. Just when we wondered if we’d make it. I stand by the window and watch them […]
Reaping What You Sow
Today I wonder about all the things I might sow into my life–and into the lives of others–in 2013. I scatter blessings like little seeds. I plant great hope in my own heart. I pray and write and think and love. I scatter far and wide and wait to reap. __________________________What will you sow this […]
The Strength and Courage You Need
This morning, I note the repetition of God’s command to “be strong and courageous” in Joshua 1. Five times in just one chapter! As I think about 2013 and entering into the new things God has in store, I take to heart the need to have strength and courage. I’m not sure what the new […]
Loving Delusions and Seeking False Gods
All morning, I think about Psalm 4 and the question, “How long will you love delusions and seek false gods?” I wonder about all the sources of delusional thinking and all the ways I seek false gods. I think about the ways I worship myself. I think about how delusional thinking begins when we question […]
How Else Will It?
This morning, we talk to our children about the particular beauty of boredom. We find ourselves exhausted by trying to keep them entertained. (It’s harder and harder to impress children these days.) “But what should I do?” the youngest one asks over and over again. “Think of something.” I remember a psychologist telling me the […]
Going the Back Way
When you’re driving with folks who really know a town well, they’ll always say, “Let’s take the back way.” This means you journey down country roads. This means you avoid traffic, stop lights, and intersections. You’re on an easier–although winding–path towards your destination. You avoid delays, headaches, and noise. And you get beautiful scenery. So […]