Good morning... At my request, our twenty-two year old daughter sent me this photo snapped on her morning run. She has graduated from college, has landed her first temporary job, and is now settling in at home for a season of saving up for the future which lies ahead of her. "I am discovering that I like running [...]
Good morning... Before leaving earth for the eternity of heaven, Jesus said to his flawed, faithful followers, "I will ask the Father and he will give you another Savior, the Holy Spirit of Truth, who will be to you a friend just like me—and he will never leave you. The world won’t receive him because they can’t see [...]
Good morning... I will remember last night's gorgeous wedding because of the white umbrellas passed out in the rain, my husband's heartfelt message to the bride and groom, a chance to talk and dance with incredible people, and the reading of a Mark Twain poem I had never heard before. A marriage makes of two fractional lives a [...]
Good morning... Yesterday I unpacked this quote in our blog post, What Is Joy? Remember, my friend sent me the photo above along with these words: "Thought you would like this. From a wonderful collection on the Black experience. She has a beautiful poem by the same title." So I googled the title and pulled up the poem, [...]
Good morning... Last Sunday our churches celebrated Pentecost Sunday, honoring the moment when the Spirit of God swept through the first followers of Jesus Christ. Our Bible tells God's story. Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. All of them were filled with the Holy Spirit and began to [...]
Good morning... "Sue," she emailed an inspiring story. "Recently, I was praying for a friend who lost their child unexpectedly. Shortly after the time of prayer, your email appeared in my inbox (which for unknown reasons had not in awhile). It was a second post from readers about rocks in streams." "I copied some of it and added [...]
Good morning... She was reminded of one of her favorite Barbara Brown Taylor quotes: "God's message of love is sent into the world in human envelopes." Isn't our Creator's most basic truth revealed in Barbara's nutshell? Before leaving earth for heaven, Jesus said, "When I am raised to life again, you will know that I am in my [...]
Good morning... My parents, at eight-two and eighty-three years old, live in a two-bedroom villa in a continuum-of-care community near my hometown of Berea, Ohio. Our whole extended family planned to celebrate their sixtieth wedding anniversary in May...then COVID hit...and everything shut down...one full year ago this week. My annual trip from Atlanta, Georgia requires a plane flight, [...]
Good morning... “I felt exposed and completely loved and accepted at the same time (which is the definition of compassion for me). Trust me when I tell you that shame and fear can’t tolerate that kind of powerful connection surging between two people. That’s exactly why courage, compassion, and connection are the tools we need for the Wholehearted [...]
Good morning... As many of you know, my husband Steve is the upper school chaplain at the Lovett School here in Atlanta, a day school which has been meeting safely, with only a few COVID hiccups, since last August. Even with these fortunate kids and teachers enjoying the benefits of in-person learning, there are many daily changes in [...]
