Good morning... Yesterday, a longtime friend texted in the morning. "This is such a God-wink," she wrote. "Henri Nouwen's devotional appeared, back to back, with your message for today, Peace From Beyond." Our blog post ended with this blessing: May peace fill our lungs and release our tense shoulders, as we return, again and again, to a state [...]
Good morning... In an email entitled "Memories," I received encouragement from Judy Wise, a close friend of my parents who must also be in her late 80's. I don't think I have seen Judy since our wedding day in 1987, but she reads our daily blog diligently from her home in North Carolina. After a week of us [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, in the middle of the night, I felt drawn to write about the metamorphosis of a butterfly. Then by midday, I read for the first time the following words in our assigned book chapters for this week. ****** Excerpt from God's Joyful Surprise by Sue Monk Kidd Not long ago my daughter received a butterfly [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, we celebrated our friend's birthday in her beautiful, newly-built abode. Her welcoming home has been a two and a half year building project, a complete labor of love. Our fabulous friendship has been a nearly twenty year building project, a complete gift of God's love. We have journeyed beside Jennifer DeShelter (top left corner) as [...]
Good morning... On Saturday afternoon, I received his email. A tried and true friend, his words always boost me. "Hi, Sue," he wrote. "I encourage you to read Patricia Holbrook’s column on page C2 of today’s AJC, entitled 'When grief teaches us to live without regret.' I particularly like these words: 'For those of us left behind, though, [...]
Good morning... A friend reached out yesterday. "Good morning Sue - I know your heart is very heavy, sending prayers for peace and comfort. I am sending you a video link. I saw it right after the devastating flood tragedy in Texas earlier this summer. Pastor Levi Lusko shared his perspective of God moving mountains in light of [...]
Good morning... "I often think I don’t know how people endure the unimaginable," my friend wrote, "but then I realize I actually really do know - only God. And I see evidence of that in so much devastating heartbreak time and time again. I think of that Steven Curtis Chapman quote, spoken after losing his young daughter suddenly [...]
Good morning... For two fertile hours, I held it all, touched the joys and honored the sorrows. Our second fitness class, The Ministry of Movement, brought creative connection to about twenty-five vibrant women. Some have been through knee and back surgeries. Some are grieving the loss of loved ones. Some are living with a dreaded diagnosis. Some are [...]
Good morning... Too much conflict. Too much chaos. Too many opinions. Too many opposites. Too much agony. Too much angst. Too many words. Too many worries. Amid the world's volatile violence, God, we come to you, vulnerable. Please sing your timeless truth into our soul. You leave us breathless when Your awesome works answer us by putting everything right. God of [...]
Good morning... My parents wake in Ohio awaiting Thursday's doctor visit, hoping for positive scan results and a clear treatment plan for my dad's prostate cancer. The DeShetler family and college friends wake at Notre Dame following last night's moving mass which honored the eternal life of Audrey. This morning, fifteen women recovering from homelessness and addiction wake [...]
