You’ll Be Back
Good morning... Sunday may be the day that feels most different during this world wide pandemic. For many church-goers across the globe who are used to gathering face to face, close together, week by week, online worship has replaced onsite worship for this unusual period of time. Churches are now negotiating, "What will it look like to come back together safely on Sundays?" Think about your own Sunday routine. How have things changed [...]
Be G.L.A.D.
Good morning... As I put my feet in my shoes yesterday, I thoroughly enjoyed a socially distanced walk and talk with a dear, dear friend. She introduced me to an acronym I had never met before, an acronym recently shaping her evening prayer time. G.L.A.D. stands for Grateful. Learning. Accomplish. Delight. She ponders the following questions with God before drifting to sleep. "For what or for whom am I grateful today?" "What new things [...]
A One-Of-A-Kind Celebration
Good morning... Sitting with two of his three siblings, I witnessed our youngest son get his high school diploma. Hidden beneath my mask, can you envision my proud-momma smile? It was certainly a memorable, one-of-a-kind celebration. Outside in the football stadium. Social distanced, wearing masks. 80% chance of rain earlier in the week turned to delightfully cloudy with a bit of a breeze. The much-anticipated event was well organized and painstakingly prepared to [...]
One Peaceful Face
Good morning... "Be Kind" was the title of yesterday's blog post. "Sue," she responded. "This is one of the most profound of all of your posts. It speaks into my unsettled heart. The one that has journaled just now about the chaos of our current time. The out of control acting out behavior running rampant in our country that we were so privileged to believe was built on freedoms and possibilities and higher [...]
Be Kind
Good morning... I puppy-sat briefly while my friend ran to the store. On the counter I noticed a pile of pink napkins. "In a world where you can be anything..." they read. "Be kind." The word "kind" drew me back to a page from the book I met face to face yesterday. Then the word "kind" brought me back to the memory of a visit with another dear friend at the start of [...]
When Our Hearts Hurt
Good morning... I took our two dogs for their annual check up, and guess what book was sitting on the bench as I waited for the vet? The Boy, the Mole, The Fox and the Horse by Charles Mackesy. In late May, I shared a picture of a page from this book passed along by a subscriber and I offered a link to an interview with the fascinating author in our post You [...]
Far Away Friends
Good morning... As I plugged in my phone before climbing into bed, her text message instantly appeared. "Dearest Sue I have missed being in touch with you my friend," she wrote from afar. "I don't have a lot of time this moment because I am working on my mom's memorial service. I have been in Jackson, Mississippi for the last three months caring for her, and she passed this Monday. Such an incredible [...]
What Really Matters?
Good morning... As we wake on the final Sunday of July 2020, our minds meander toward fall. Masks. Social distancing. Balancing our need for safety with our craving for human contact. This will be an audacious autumn. In the shadow of a growing death toll, we are made keenly aware: "Life is short." Will we do stuff that matters? I have heard it said that this pandemic is less of an interrupter and [...]
Each Lamb Is Loved
Good morning... When I think of a lamb, I think of this sketch. I received a copy of this print after one of our four miscarriages. Instinctively I knew that the soul of the little being inside me had been scooped up and embraced by the loving care of our Lord. What do you notice about this simple sketch? Soft, cozy, cotton-like feel. Bonding, complete, tender care. Mutual delight, love given and received. [...]
Our Lions. Our Lambs.
Good morning... Usually, the lion in me is sleeping. Calm is my style. Peace is my baseline. My roaring lion wakes infrequently, but this week she woke (see the details of these dynamics in our post I Was So Mad). Over happy hour, I was talking with a person I dearly love and out of the blue her inner lion rose up and attacked. [...]
Relationships Come First
Good morning... She prayed over me as we finished our monthly spiritual direction phone call, and her words landed in my open journal: "LORD, these mixed emotions are so tender. There is so much wrapped up in the place where Sue is sitting. We know You are a resurrection God. We don't know what will be resurrected from the death of Sue's dreams." (For details of my angry dilemma, visit our post I Was [...]
Next Time You Are Angry
Good morning... At 7:21 am yesterday, she wrote me in response to our post, I Was So Mad. "I am moved," she said. "This is so strong and authentic, Sue. Thank you for sharing this visceral and vivid depiction of a difficult process. I love the contemporary take on Philippians." Then at 7:23 am she wrote again: "This came to me right after reading your post!" I exchanged her name for mine and [...]