Good morning... Together we are learning about Ring Theory, concentric circles of support expanding out from each individual (see yesterday's blog post Our Words Matter). During this Covid-19 crisis, we recognize the importance of sending "comfort in" to the front line workers, those in danger, those grieving, and we work our own "grief out" with people in our [...]
Good morning... As we talked by phone for two full hours, one woman sat outside a local Starbucks in the sacred space of her car, another woman was holed up by herself in her now claustrophobic home, and the other sat in the privacy of a closet, door shut to her overcrowded clan. I listened attentively from the [...]
Good morning... "I think we need to cancel the March women's conference," speaker Dr. Cathy Snapp said over the phone. What? What are you talking about? My mind silently reeled. Cancel the "Awake To Wholeness Women's Retreat" we have been planning for over a year? But so many people have invested so many hours. How can we cancel? As [...]
Good morning... Settling in to do Saturday yard work, I discovered the sign above. It magically appeared in our yard overnight, delivered personally, planted by hand, with all good intentions. But, surprisingly, this kind gesture made me sad. Really sad. Like any strong feeling, I took time to process, "God, why does this symbol of academic achievement step [...]
Good morning... "I'm up praying for you and yours," I texted in the middle of the night. "Any new baby news?" God had stirred me awake to pray for a friend whose grand baby was due any day. "Good morn!" came her return text at 8:58 am. "She was born yesterday and all went well. I have been [...]
Good morning... "Oops, This Page Could Not Be Found!" says the link given at the bottom of blog post #2 for today, You've Got A Friend In Me. Never before have I sent you three messages on one morning, but this is an unusual moment in unsettling times. We are asked to adapt, stretch, and change directions, finding [...]
Good morning... For some, the first version of this morning's message, A Gift From A Grandma, did not come through with audio throughout the whole sweet song. So, I have reworked our message and added a different link to our adorable video. From behind a closed door in another state, one grandmother reached out to send me a [...]
Good morning... From behind a closed door in another state, one grandmother reached out to send me a YouTube video reminding her of her own grown daughter when she was young. Memories we cherish are always ours to keep, we are "sheltered in place" with a mind that remembers. The lasting memories we love most can keep us [...]
Good morning... "We are good!" she replied by email. "Definitely have tough days, but who doesn’t?" "I had a mommy meltdown last week," I stepped through her open door of honesty. "I was tired of being primary shopper AND chef (even with four young adults and a kind husband to help). The anxiety of others had snowballed to [...]
Good morning... Just after sending you yesterday's photo of the frigid, frozen Norwegian landscape outside one subscriber's front door, I opened Henri Nouwen's morning message to be greeted by the luxurious photo above. What a gorgeous contrast. Land, white snow versus green grass. Sky, winter grey versus springtime blue. Feeling, chilly cold versus welcoming warmth. God's breathtaking beauty [...]
