Good morning... Remember? I shared with you that my parents, ages 80 and 81, moved away from our hometown of Berea, Ohio after living there for over fifty years. Following the lead of several good friends, on November 1st, 2018 they moved into a two-bedroom, two-bath villa in a continuing care, retirement community twenty minutes away. In early [...]
Good morning... This Sabbath morning, I come upon a quiet quote, like picking up one weathered shell from the winter beach. “Usually, when the distractions of daily life deplete our energy, the first thing we eliminate is the thing we need the most: quiet, reflective time. Time to dream, time to contemplate what's working and what's not, so [...]
Good morning... This midwinter week, what am I learning about the seamless dance between living fully and dying well? Monday: The wise words of Martin Luther King, Jr. leave a life-giving legacy, inviting us all up the mountain to God's higher way. Tuesday: Blending the wisdom of my Florida friend Betty Skinner, as she nears her 93rd birthday, with [...]
Good morning... A few of you wrote me touched by yesterday's morning message (use "Previous" link above to revisit post). I felt compelled to issue each a challenge: "Text me by evening and tell me some of the ways God amazes you today. I will do the same." So by the end of yesterday, these moments of amazement [...]
Good morning... Beloved American poet Mary Oliver tiptoed over from earth to heaven one week ago today in Hobe Sound, Florida. Might three of her most famous quotes shape our prayer time this morning? Read each. Pause quiet. Wait inspired. "Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" "Instructions for [...]
Good morning... Martin Luther King, Jr. taught us how to live well before dying. I noticed a huge pile of wisdom adding up about the delicate dance between living fully and dying well, as I researched the 123 favorite MLK quotes for yesterday's post (touch 'Previous' above to revisit). These priceless pebbles of truth continue to ripple out [...]
Good morning... I love the tense of the verb in Revelation 21:5a (NIV). “I am making everything new!” "I am making everything new," says the Sustainer of life. Not I will make everything new. Or I was going to make everything new, but I changed My mind when I saw humanity's mess. When we savor Sabbath, stopping and resting, [...]
Good morning... What does the invisible love of God look like visibly, as the Holy Spirit morphs fluidly between our individuality and our cohesiveness? “Let there be spaces in your togetherness," says Khalil Gibran in his most famous literary work, The Prophet. "And let the winds of the heavens dance between you." "Fill each other's cup but drink [...]
Good morning... Each sabbath we take a day to rest and review lessons we have learned together in our everyday blog. As the curtain opens on 2019, we are wise to look back, securing our bearings, before seeking and sensing: "God, what's next?" Using the "Previous." link above this message, savor again the inner terrain we have explored [...]
Good morning... When heading into a brand new year, we face a plethora of possibilities. Developing the art of discernment, 92 year old Betty Skinner recommends, "Be inspired, not impulsive." Impulsive is rash, quick, emotionally reactive. Inspired is walking "in-sync with the Spirit," calmly seeking and sensing, "Does this opportunity deserve my yes or my no?" Flipping back to [...]
