Simplicity
Today some professors and I talked about simplicity. What would a life look like that valued simplicity? I return home, and I gather the afternoon harvest of raspberries–just enough to top yogurt or stir in oatmeal. As I rinse the berries and store the uneaten ones in the freezer for a winter evening when a raspberry […]
Each His Own Task; Each His Own Labor
This morning, as I read Number 3-4, I couldn’t help but notice how God gives such specific assignments to those caring for the tent of meeting. Every person enjoyed a special task–whether they carried a peg or a goatskin. I read this: “Aaron and his sons shall go in and appoint them each to his […]
Better than Everything
I remember exactly where I sat in the Counselor Hut at Camp Greystone when one of the older counselors, Natalie, shared a devotion from her journal. Exhausted, immature, and confused about life, I let the wisdom of Christian staff at Greystone wash over me whenever I could. God was shaping my 18 year-old soul. She […]
Courage and Abundance
In my professor prayer group, we’ve been talking about living courageously. To live courageously (and therefore even more abundantly), we do things that require faith and a new perspective on what to actually fear. We know courage must operate when fear rises. Otherwise, it’s not really courage. Courage, after all, is the ability to do […]
Americana on Friday Night
My husband and I enjoyed the high school football game last night. Our city of State College only has one public high school. One! Friday night football, then, is a big deal. So when you go to a game, you see everyone. You find yourself eating popcorn and drinking Coke; you’ll sing along with the […]
Memorization
Well, my journey in memorizing Psalm 119 stalled. I discovered the sad truth: I’m terrible at memorization now that I’m in my mid-forties. My brain isn’t as sharp as when I easily memorized long speeches and performed them. I used to recite Elizabeth Bishop poems from memory and then delighted in memorizing the first section […]
To Help the Conversation: What Have You Been Thinking About?
Today I shared with my students a technique to help move past the awkward first question, “How are you?” Sometimes in a new situation, like in an interview or when seeing someone you’re wanting to engage, this question can stall the conversation. If you answer, “Fine. You?” the conversation feels choppy and even boring. Instead, […]
With the Right Elements
I refreshed my birdbath by scrubbing it well and filling it back up with fresh water. My husband refilled the bird-feeders. Two simple acts created incredible results: creatures have descended! It’s as if word spread around the neighborhood; we wake up to dozens of birds who act like they’ve found a luxury resort. And the […]
Upping the Gratitude
As you know, I keep a gratitude journal where I record five specific things I’m thankful for at the beginning of each day (and sometimes I do this at night as a reflection practice). I do this not only because of God’s invitation to “give thanks in all circumstances” as “God’s will for me in […]
Translucent
In Psalm 119:9, we read this: “How can a young man keep his way pure? By guarding it according to your word.” I wanted to learn more about this word pure, and I found something so useful. In the Hebrew, it pure also reads “clear” or “translucent.” Translucent objects allow light to shine through them. […]