One Meaningful Funeral
Good morning... Stuck in the really long line of cars trailing into the parking garage at Buckhead Church, I sensed how sobering it was for so many in our community to be attending the funeral of Dobbs Davie, a well loved twenty year old. I slipped into a chair in the back section of the large church so that I could take it all in, taking in all of the bittersweet. A pastor [...]
Grieving The Loss of Dobbs
Good morning... I wake early on this difficult day, preparing my heart for this morning's funeral. In the sacred stillness of these wee hours, I savor the obituary of Dobbs Davie. Crossing over to heaven on Mother's Day, Dobbs was just twenty years old. I look at his handsome picture and can see remnants of the little boy who played youth football with our youngest son, Jeremiah. Our families made great memories together [...]
Vote With Peace
Good morning... My twenty-three year old daughter laughed at me recently, "Mom, why are you getting so into this vote thing?" This "vote thing" on May 24th will determine whether our village of Vinings, Georgia becomes a city. Last month, I went to a gathering held by Cobb County leaders discussing our decision. Last week, I went to a large gathering to listen and learn with the "Vote Yes" representatives. Last night, I [...]
What Matters Forever Is Safe
Good morning... "Though the cherry trees don't blossom (Habakkuk 3:17, MSG); though the bank account, the bed, the chair, and the calendar are empty; though the grave dirt may be heaped; and though the lungs ache with the weight of breathing through the drowning waves, in Christ what matters forever is always forever safe," explains the Ann Voskamp quote sent to me yesterday by a friend. What matters forever is always forever safe. What [...]
From This Side Of The Veil
Good morning... On Thursday I held hands and exchanged words with a friend who had cancer in the lining of her stomach. Before I left her peaceful home, her only son shared, "I think she has about two more weeks." Two days later, I received the text saying she had died. Our wise, gentle friend celebrated this Mother's Day in heaven with her daughter, who died years ago in a tragic car accident, [...]
This Bittersweet Mother’s Day
Good morning... I am deeply touched by the bittersweet nature of Mother's Day this year. I feel the sweetness of my mom coming back to life after being on a ventilator in the Ohio ICU. Wow, what a joy to celebrate! I also feel the bitter of old friends, a mom and a grandmother, with whom I am diligently praying that their son, who graduated from high school with our twenty-year old, will [...]
Joyfully Reunited
Good morning... Last month I was joyfully reunited in Jacksonville, Florida with friends and family of Betty Skinner to honor the memory of our beloved spiritual mentor. Betty is the down to earth Christian mystic at the center of The Hidden Life Awakened by authors Dr. Cathy Snapp (in the UGA hat) and Kitty Crenshaw (pictured above Cathy). We laughed a lot. We cried a bit. We even danced in the dark to [...]
Broken Feels Horrible
Good morning... As my friend and I walked and talked around the horse farm, we discussed all that feels broken, out of order, in disarray right now. Mid-sentence I looked down to see a single butterfly wing at my feet. Disconnected from the whole. Lying alone there in the dirt. I picked up the fragile...little...useless wing. The small symbol deepened our own awareness. What used to provide a sense of sturdy balance had [...]
Thoughts From Steve’s Sidekick
Good morning... My husband Steve has taught, coached, and ministered as the head chaplain of The Lovett School for over twenty-five years. He has served alongside fabulous faculty members, year after year, and their chaplain team tenderly cares for the upper, middle, and lower school students and their families, day in and day out. On Monday I received the weekly devotional email sent out by Lovett's chaplain team. I found Jennifer's words to [...]
Appreciation For Teachers
Good morning... The complex matrix of needs in the life of children today are supported in tangible ways through the teachers within our classrooms. Teaching is often a thankless job, like changing diapers, preparing daily meals, and cleaning endless piles of dirty clothes. School is a second home for many and teachers are passionate pseudo parents to the kids growing up in our communities. Teachers remind me of Brother Lawrence, the humble monk [...]
Fun Mother’s Day Gifts
Good morning... The joy of this Mother's Day week is already picking up speed. Our artistic friend Corinne Adams is also a dedicated homework helper at PAWkids, the non-profit downtown where several of us are enjoying quality time. Corinne is in the process of photographing all of the twenty kids in the after school enrichment program. Look at some of these gems! Today [...]
What Makes A Good Marriage?
Good morning... Along with a baby blue golf shirt to match the color of his eyes, I gave me father a tiny yellow birthday gift. Pictured above, I gave him a small symbol of the love I see him sharing tenderly with my mother, his wife for over sixty years. Two little ceramic birds leaning into each other. One with eyes open, the other with eyes resting shut. Comfort. Support. Two melting into [...]