Good morning... I received this fun photo from my sister yesterday. In March, she will celebrate the birth of her second grandchild. Soon after, I received another text. "We started hospice care on my mom today," wrote a friend who has been nurturing her mother in the ICU. "What might that look like?" I texted back. "We started [...]
Good morning... Might it be time to break out of your shell? We can learn important lessons from a baby chick. The protective shell, which has been strong enough to shield the creature from the outside world, eventually becomes permeable. As the maturing bird absorbs calcium from the egg, her bones grow stronger, stronger, stronger. Additional calcium is [...]
Good morning... Stuck at the airport, so many people have experienced travel troubles this summer. In solidarity with the mixed-up masses, a friend shared a real story which gently shifts our perspective. ****** "Gate A-4" by Naomi Shihab Nye Wandering around the Albuquerque Airport Terminal, after learning my flight had been delayed four hours, I heard an announcement: [...]
Good morning... After writing about our need to be kneaded by God, I am drawn back to an old favorite poem. The first line begins: "It takes time to bake a loaf of bread, to grind, to knead, to wait..." Please take your time, reading these sacred words as slowly as you can. ****** It Takes Time by [...]
Good morning... One line lingers from the prayer she prayed. "Lord, knead us into one." Jesus makes clear God's vision. The goal is for all of them to become one heart and mind— Just as you, Father, are in me and I in you, so they might be one heart and mind with us (John 17:21a, MSG). Form. [...]
Good morning... I love this unique bird rising up into purple. Purple, the higher way we have been exploring with God. Purple, the masterful blending of red, white, and blue. Purple, our patchy pathway forward into God's peace, God's power, God's purposes. "Our life is an apprenticeship to the truth that around every circle another circle can be [...]
Good morning... Our friend read this poem aloud to us over the phone. Now might we read these tender words aloud to ourselves? ****** have courage to be a beginner entrust your time to telling a tale in which the ending is veiled. build patience for the harsh voice inside; she is still a child who believes perfection [...]
Good morning... At last night's wedding and reception, it was fascinating to watch the children. A few were crying loudly, unsettled by some discomfort. Some were dancing freely, spinning, swirling, jumping with joy. Older ones were helping younger ones, holding hands, kindly guiding. Still others were completely exhausted, sacked out in their parents' arms. It was great fun [...]
Good morning... Last Saturday, I woke to this scene outside the front door of our Pennsylvania log cabin. A mess of feathers strewn about. The grass was covered with remnants of a struggle. I thought to myself, "Something has died here." Then by evening time, we were watching on TV the scene at a political rally in Butler, [...]
Good morning... After driving nine hours toward home from Pennsylvania, we stopped in North Carolina to visit our oldest best friends. With ease, we talked about everything that came to mind; how wonderful to feel truly seen, known, and loved. After our long dinner and our soulful discussion, we went to bed. Being the first to wake around [...]
