When You Cannot See Your Way Ahead
I’ve talked to friends just like me who enjoy certainty and clear future plans. As the COVID pandemic continues, we ask questions about our semesters, our summer plans, and our expectations for the fall. Who knows? We cannot see our way ahead. I love how the Holy Spirit will remind us of comforting passages of […]
And Then You Grow to Like It
Snow falls again here in Pennsylvania. We wake up, blanketed by white again. This means we bundle up to shovel the snow again. But it’s a joyful thing. I’ve grown to love sipping hot coffee, throwing on my thick coat and boots and gloves and scarf and hat. I like the quiet of the cold […]
Mostly Encourage
I’m learning that teaching, grading, parenting, married life, friendship–all the things I do (and all the things you do in whatever category) should mostly involve encouragement. People are already too hard on themselves anyway. Their internal criticism runs all the time, and I don’t need to pile on feedback and criticism and correction. Even in […]
The Good Foundation
After my neighbor let me borrow a pair of hers, I ordered some Yaktrax so I could walk more easily on ice and snow. They are like little tire snow chains for your feet. You secure the Yaktrax around your snowboots or regular shoes, and they provide all the traction you need to walk. I’m fearless […]
So You Might Pass Safely Here
As my husband and I walk out onto the frozen lake, it occurs to me how we’re walking on water. I marvel at the strange beauty of it and how just recently the lake existed in a totally different form. It’s bitter cold as the wind whips our faces. It’s a stark and darkening landscape–empty and […]
Just Three
I think I’ve discovered my perfect grading strategy. Three at a time! Just three projects / portfolios / essays–whatever it is, I just grade three of them at once and then do something else for a while. And then I change locations. Grade three. Do something else. Start again in a new location. It’s working! […]
Abiding in Well-Being
I started to read a fresh, new Bible–the ESV study Bible–because my precious green NIV study Bible has fallen to shreds. I actually read them side-by-side to see the slight variation in translation. It’s a joy to think about fresh insights, fresh highlighting, and fresh commentary on the most beloved psalms. Today, I look at […]
Three Ways to Start Your First Sentence
A friend asked me for my best advice on how to start her writing project. She need actual sentences to try. Maybe you need a template like this to just get you started. I told her three things that might help, especially for short pieces like social media posts or blogs. These three tips also […]
When You Feel Ashamed and Far from God
I remember the day I read Romans 5:5 and how “God’s love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.” It’s such a powerful image. Think of God pouring His love into us–like from a great heavenly pitcher. It’s abundant and free-flowing. It reminds me of […]
An Icy Little Word
I love the icicles forming all over the neighborhood today. I even the love the very word icicle. It’s an icy, dangling sort of word. Icicles form as snow melts–only to freeze upon its descent. It’s an almost / not yet kind of winter object. I marvel at the various icicle shapes along the walk. […]