When I Can’t Feel You
Good morning... "I am blessed to own the original of this wonderful painting by a very special artist," wrote my friend. "The painting is entitled, 'Even When I Can’t Feel You' by Elizabeth Londen." Then she shared her intimate thoughts from yesterday. ****** Epiphany 2025 by Vilda Stone Brannen, January 6, 2025 There is a sadness that comes across this Epiphany day. The spaces once filled with lights, stars, angels and bells Have [...]
What An Epiphany!
Good morning... Today, January 6th, we celebrate Epiphany. As I treasure hunt in these early morning hours, I learn some interesting things. The term Epiphany, based on the Greek word meaning “manifestation” or “revelation,” is a time to celebrate Christ’s revelation to the world. In the Bible, the Epiphany is Jesus' visit from the Magi, aristocratic men from the east (often referred to as kings or wise men, non-Jewish Gentiles, for sure) who [...]
A Heartbreaking Loss
Good morning... After receiving word of the heartbreaking loss, I immediately texted my friend, "I just heard the horrible news. Please know that Steve and I are with you in Spirit, lifting you in prayer. Let us know how we might come close to support." "Thank you, Sue," came her quiet response. The next morning, I texted. "I have made your family a chicken pesto Stromboli, easy to slice off a piece, heat [...]
Beautiful/Terrible Holidays
Good morning... Her text came in after I had climbed in bed last night. Now I wake in the middle of the night to read her words. "Happy New Year, Sue!" she wrote. "It has been a whirlwind with joys and sorrows, once again, at the same time. We are blessed with so many loving family members. The beautiful/terrible days of the holidays this year have been really hard. God got us through [...]
How To Love A Broken World
Good morning... In retrospect, we learned a terrible truth. Around 3:15 am on New Year's Day, a terrorist mowed down innocent people with a speeding pick-up truck in the celebratory streets of New Orleans. At the very same time, I was up writing yesterday's blog post, Practice Falling In Love. I was guided by the Spirit to share these sentences: “Let me not forget how to be stirred by beauty, remade by it, [...]
Practice Falling In Love
Good morning... In the dark of night, my bare feet walk outside to capture one first photo of this new year. Returning to the warmth of home, I savor gentle words. "Let me not forget how to be stirred by beauty, remade by it, even," writes poet Rosemerry Wahtola Trommer. "So I practice now, this art of falling in love with the world. Come tomorrow, I will practice again." Might we remember to [...]
His Living Legacy
Good morning... "Indeed a humble man," filled the subject line of her email yesterday. "Good morning, Sue," she wrote. "I searched for this picture and 🙏 found it. My mom, daughter and I were heading home from New York City, and we were all held up boarding the plane. We could not figure out why and then we understood. Jimmy Carter was on our flight. He was so kind that, after everyone had [...]
Jimmy Carter’s Life Of Faith
Good morning... "Death is not an end," said Andrew Young, as he paid tribute to his long time friend, Jimmy Carter, who died yesterday at 100 years old. "It's a transition, a time of separation, a time of grace and mercy. Jimmy was a man who lived a wonderful life obedient to the still small voice of God leading him as he led others." The still small voice of God led Jimmy to [...]
We All Get Help
Good morning... Many of us could relate to yesterday's post, I've Broken A Lot. We are all gloriously, terribly broken, and oh, it's so beautiful to see it, the love in everything. "We are all so blessed that God doesn’t leave us in our broken state🙏🏻♥️," quickly came the first response. A few minutes later, another reader wrote: "Dearest Sue….love this….and you’re brokenness makes you so very beautiful sweet friend…authentic, vulnerable, genuine, kind, [...]
I’ve Broken A Lot
Good morning... These glass bottles line one window sill in our living room. They serve as a reminder of God's repeating process of growth, change, regeneration. The egg of our potential exists. Then, unexpectedly, things fall apart. We sit still in the sticky mess, empty, empty, empty. Over time, the seed of new life begins to form, "Amazing things are happening here." Together, only together with God, "WE can," we can face the [...]
Our Daily Work Begins
Good morning... As the sun rises on this new day, there are layers and layers of crowded needs. Where do we begin? We deepen into a poem which has guided the lives of many for over a decade. ****** The Work of Christmas by Howard Thurman from Bread for the Preacher, Dec. 2009 When the song of the angels is stilled, When the star in the sky is gone, When the kings and [...]
Create A Space Within
Good morning... "Your greatest gift is not your gifts, but your surrendered yes to be a space for God," writes Ann Voskamp in The Greatest Gift. "The miscarriage of Christmas begins when anxieties crowd out the space within simply to carry Christ. Make room; be a womb. Be a womb to receive Christ everywhere, and it is He who delivers everyone." On this unique Christmas day, [...]