Our Youngest Turned 21
Good morning... Like many once-in-a-lifetime events, the 21st birthday of our youngest child was kinda underwhelming for me. Years ago, during a particularly challenging summer with our son, I found the hand painted old fashion sign above: "Good Beer. Good Cheer. Always on tap here." I purchased it at Goodwill as a symbol of hope that our family of six would eventually make it to adulthood without any major mishaps derailing our dreams. [...]
When Best Friends Wed
Good morning... After seventeen years of dating and fifteen years of living together, yesterday was the incredibly special night our neighbors wed. We enjoy living across the street from Joe and JoAnn. She and I particularly share a similar zest for life, and we love giving random gifts to one another as the Spirit moves. Earlier in the week I dropped off on their front step a big handful of gifts, most purchased [...]
My Mom Fell Again
Good morning... Sustained by our prayers through March, April, and May, my mom miraculously opened her eyes in the ICU and came back to life at the sound of my father's voice. Recovering from a surgery to repair her broken femur following a fall in early March, my mom's health had nosedived quickly. Within 24 hours, she had suffered a stroke and a whole body infection was shutting down her organs, landing her [...]
On This Too-Heavy Day
Good morning... "Just read this lovely blessing from Kate Bowler," a friend emailed me yesterday. Before the heat of the day rose high. Before the shock of another mass shooting dropped us low. Before this night of broken sleep took its tiring toll on so many ordinary people. "Thought you would enjoy it," she added, ". . . fits perfectly my week." Sometimes I am paper thinning at every touch. Responsibilities and duties [...]
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Good morning... Developing resilience helps us to navigate life's tumult. Wars. Grief. Divorce. Addictions. Betrayals. Disappointments. Mass shootings. Mental and physical illness. Political, racial, economic polarization. How do we, ordinary people who are trying to process life's overwhelming experiences, how do we develop lifesaving resilience? I'm not asking a rhetorical question here. Really. Truly. How do we productively process the turmoil reshaping our lives? A three-fold answer begins to dawn within me. First, [...]
One Week Ago Today
Good morning... One week ago today . . . . . . "Nineteen kids came romping up the golden staircase, taking two steps at a time, sprinting toward the mother-of-pearl gates," writes beloved blogger Sean Dietrich. "It’s a wonder they didn’t knock Saint Peter over onto his Blessed Assurance. The children all smelled like little-kid sweat and stinky feet. Their loud footsteps could be heard echoing from as far away as the Andromeda [...]
We Will Remember
Good morning... During this tumultuous time when so many flags are flying at half staff, we set aside a day to remember those who have sacrificed their lives to defend the freedom we cherish. Men and women. Young and old. People with varying skin color, economic status, family history. The impact of war ripples out to reshape us. “You will lose someone you can’t live without, and your heart will be badly broken, [...]
Our Private Tears
Good morning... Deeply moved... He went into his private room and wept there (Genesis 43:30, NIV). When we are deeply moved, might we also give ourselves the gift of private tears? You have seen me tossing and turning through the night. You have collected all my tears and preserved them in your bottle! You have recorded every one in your book (Psalm 56:8, TLB). Seen. Heard. Deeply loved. Our private tears do not [...]
We’ve Been To The Bottom
Good morning... I have a dear friend who sends me wise quotes. During this time of great grief, she sent me two sacred sentences, filled with grace and tender with truth. She texted, "I think of a Stephen Curtis Chapman quote when they lost their daughter: 'We have been to the bottom and have found it to be solid.'" She added with hope, "The Lord redeems what He allows." In these quiet moments, [...]
We Are Tired And Thirsty
"Good morning," she texted yesterday. "A little tired today," she continued. "Heartbroken for the families and community in Uvalde, Texas. Thinking about people like Steve (my husband, a chaplain) who are there - and everywhere - comforting families and friends reconciling loss, preparing words for services, walking in for visits." "This morning I am deep into Kate Bowler's outstanding book _No Cure for Being Human (And Other Truths I Need to Hear)," my [...]
Innocent Victims Like Us
Good morning... With last weekend's wedding in Charleston, S.C., my friend and I enjoyed sight-seeing through the southern city. The history of our pain, our progress, and our potential as a nation comes to life on every street. We reverently visited the church where 9 people were killed by a gunman while gathering for Bible study on June 17th, 2015. I noticed nine shells laying in honor of the slain victims. [...]
Today Is A Big Day
Good morning... Following last week's widely discussed post, We Differ Politically, one loyal subscriber sent me a copy of a speech presented in 1944. Highly respected Judge Learned Hand (1872-1961) shared keen words of wisdom during the "I am an American Day" celebrations. "The fifth paragraph blows me away," our regular reader wrote. Pondering the grounding wisdom, I too was blown away by the following paragraph. "What then is the spirit of liberty?" [...]