Good morning... Today is the first day of the first week of this fresh new year. What a perfect morning to ring in the new with a special gift from a friend in our Monday group. This fall, our friend learned about the struggles of Ukrainian Olena Gnes through watching her story told on the international news, and [...]
Good morning... "Any chance you could walk tomorrow afternoon?" a friend texted me on Monday. "We are in Kentucky with Steve's sister, so tomorrow is not possible," I explained. "Steve's sister lives alone. Her husband died of suicide in the back yard of their rental home 8 years ago. She still lives in the same place. As a [...]
Good morning... Love never dies. Inspired speech will be over some day; praying in tongues will end; understanding will reach its limit. We know only a portion of the truth, and what we say about God is always incomplete. But when the Complete arrives, our incompletes will be canceled (1 Corinthians 13:8-10, MSG). Love never dies, so loving [...]
Good morning... On December 26th, I love being the first awake in a quiet home full of sleeping people. I brew a 12-cup pot of our family's favorite coffee, fill up my personal "COMFORT" mug, and nestle beneath the fuzzy blanket with our smallest furry dog. Surveying the situation, my eyes pick up the mounds of "mess" strewn [...]
Good morning... With one week to go until Christmas Eve, I share with you a touching music video. An elementary school Christmas concert sings with clarity the journey of our Christian faith. Take a moment, with eyes opened or closed, to savor the sound of our Savior's story sung through the solo of one talented child. Touch on [...]
Good morning... For our make-shift shop, nine of us laid out awesome gifts donated by many generous people in our community. Why create a Secret Santa Shop for vulnerable, at risk children to choose and to wrap gifts for their loved ones? For me, the best answer to this question is a story. ****** LOVE DOES THAT by [...]
Good morning... I felt so encouraged by this inspirational email. "I am reading this, thinking of you," wrote a friend. "Very wonderful!" ****** Friday, December 9, 2022 - Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation - Faith in Divine Presence Contemplative activist and Episcopal priest Adam Bucko gained deeper faith and trust in God’s presence after facing limits of what he [...]
Good morning... Just like the miraculous multiplication which fed 5,000 hungry people (with leftovers to spare), we each shared our own puny fish, our own little loaves. One friend donated a tree skirt and a handful of heart ornaments. Another brought lights - some big, some small, some colored, some white - along with some jingling bells and [...]
Good morning... In a week that "should" be festive and fun, many people I love are wrestling with some really hard things. Hearing the heaviness of others, I am prayerfully drawn down into a sense of melancholy blue. The grueling impact of cancer. An untrue accusation drives a long legal battle. The ugly cycle of marital strife is [...]
Good morning... Reflecting on this fall, do you remember the 15 Bags Of Abundant Love we created for the overnight retreat at Ignatius House hosted for women recovering from homelessness and addiction? So many of us contributed special items to fill the bags with symbols of God's extravagant love. [...]
