If you ranked all the gifts that the Holy Spirit distributes to His people, which ones would come out on top? If you listed all the people serving in your church, who do you admire most? If you could have any skill or talent to leverage for blessing others, what would you choose? We admire … Continue reading The Ones Who Cook
Faith
An Ordinary, Everyday Life
“Give him the name Jesus,” the angel said. An ordinary, everyday name at the time. Nothing special. Born in an ordinary, everyday place. He lived an ordinary, everyday life. Working his father’s trade in an ordinary village. Living our ordinary lives. Experiencing our hurts and dreams. Our pain and joy. Dancing exuberantly at weddings. Grieving … Continue reading An Ordinary, Everyday Life
A Distant Country
I packed away the Christmas decorations this week. We once had a larger tree in our larger house, circled by gifts for our larger family. Now we have a simple tabletop tree by the window. Ben was excited when we brought it in from the garage. “Twee!” he crowed at the sight. “Ho Ho!” For … Continue reading A Distant Country
We Didn’t Expect You to Come This Way
We didn't expect you to come this way. You were supposed to rescue us from our enemies, but instead you rescued us from ourselves. We expected retribution, but instead you brought healing. We thought you would bring judgment’s sword, but instead you brought words of kindness. Humility. Love. You washed our filthy feet. We didn't … Continue reading We Didn’t Expect You to Come This Way
It’s So Easy
It arrived in my mailbox last month, a small yellow envelope containing words of affection and encouragement. The person who sent it, I knew, had precious little time to compose and mail it to me. And yet, she did. A sacrifice of friendship that sank deep into my soul. The world can be a hard … Continue reading It’s So Easy
Saying Our Prayers
We removed our shoes and stepped into the Blue Mosque, one of Turkey’s most famous sights. The decorated domes soared over our heads as we pressed in to see this remarkable building. The tourist crowd surged around us, snapping pictures and selfies in the beautiful, and yet empty, room, the large carpeted area cordoned off … Continue reading Saying Our Prayers
The Real War
Photo by u00d6mer Faruk Yu0131ldu0131z on Pexels.com Some of us remember when the world’s suffering was relegated to one hour on the nightly news. We watched a sober-faced newscaster recount famines and wars and disasters in far-off places with sorrow in our hearts, and then we returned to a sink full of dishes or our … Continue reading The Real War
The Audacity of Disability
My son Ben holds tightly to the tissue-paper torch at his Special Olympics meet. He should be settled in a career by now, I think, raising a family and making his mark on the world. But instead he clutches this small honor like it is the real Olympic torch, eyes bright with the seriousness of … Continue reading The Audacity of Disability
Come
Perhaps it was the diagnosis. The abandonment. The failure. Maybe it was that one great rejection. That loss that saps color from your life, wrapping you in its invisible shroud. You smile and laugh, performing like an Oscar is on the line. But the wound eats at your heart, reminding you of its presence; demanding … Continue reading Come
It Is What It Is
“It is what it is,” he shrugged. “Nothing we can do about it now.” I sighed in frustration. Was that all? No anger? No complaining? I wanted to bemoan it for awhile. To vent my frustration. But that little phrase sucked the air out of my protest. “It is what it is”, she said sadly, … Continue reading It Is What It Is
A View of the Lake 