Ron Greer’s Wisdom
Good morning... A friend sent me the link to Ron Greer's talk about kindness from last Sunday. When the moment was right, I opened the link below and spent nearly an hour peacefully finishing a project at home and listening to Ron's restorative wisdom. So many important nuggets to ponder. When the moment is right, might you do the same, touching on the link and savoring Ron's wisdom? In Matthew 25:40 (MSG) Jesus [...]
Celebrating Junie Parker
Good morning... On Friday morning, I received the above text. A beloved member of our church family went to heaven last week. Kind. Generous. Incredibly beautiful, inside and out. This photo on my phone captures well the spirited Junie Parker I will always remember. Her obituary begins: "Natalae Waters 'Junie' Parker died peacefully in her home on September 24th after a brief illness, surrounded by her family." Peaceful. At home. Brief illness. Surrounded [...]
See Kindness Spread
Good morning... "I love that you posted on KIND30🌞," wrote a long time friend last night. "My good friend Beth Abernathy is the founder," she explained, "and I am so thankful for the traction this movement has gotten! This might go global!! We need intentional acts of kindness more than ever now. I met with the development director at Skyland Trail today and she is going to take it to the Skyland Trail [...]
Notice The Kindness
Good morning... Today, October 1st, is the official start of our KIND30 Challenge. This month, we will commit to doing at least one small, kind act each day, hoping to develop a sturdy habit of kindness. Now, up in the middle of the night, I scroll through my phone and see that kindness is already happening in our world. Do we take time to pause, to notice, and to cherish kind acts? Yesterday, [...]
The Bottom Fell Out
Good morning... The bottom fell out of the sky last week, as Hurricane Helene's flooding rains and devastating winds upended normal life for many in Georgia and for our neighbors in surrounding states. These photos show the impact across our nearby neighborhood. The delicious Canoe restaurant, where we often enjoy happy hour beside the Chattahoochee River. Across the riverbank, The Lovett School's football field, completely under water. Flooded was the lower part of [...]
Completing The Camino
Good morning... Journeying through fog and mist our final three days, on Tuesday afternoon all twelve of us completed our Camino pilgrimage. Walking seventy-two miles of sacred trails in six life-giving days, we soaked in the magnificence of the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela, the holy spot where the remains of St. James have been laid to rest. What an experience, what an incredible experience. [...]
Our Camino Continues
Good morning... After walking 41,270 steps on day one of our Camino pilgrimage, 42,625 steps on day two, and 26,429 steps on day three, our adventure continues. We finally trekked our way to quaint country cabins with reliable internet, and I am excited to share a few photos and memories from our amazing journey. [...]
Seedlings From Sorrow
Good morning... One week ago today, we celebrated the 23rd anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center in New York City. Now in the dark of night, I revisit a string of short video someone sent me, videos created to honor the vibrant life living on after the devastation of 9/11/2001. The Survivor Tree represents resilience, community, and new growth after loss. Seeds are picked from this now-gorgeous tree to [...]
Come On The Camino
Good morning... Arriving from different places, at different times, embodying different life stages, our group of twelve made it to Sarria, Spain. At our kick-off dinner, we were both wildly excited and completely exhausted from crowded travel and a six hour time change. For about eight hours we flew with the full moon as it changed places with the rising sun. Leaving behind our [...]
The Bird At Her Window
Good morning... After reading yesterday's blog post, My Dad's Handwritten Note, a church friend from a while back wrote from miles away, sharing a story about her own father. Now up in the middle of the night the nearly full moon beckons me to the couch. "Sit. Stay put. Savor her tender, touching words." "Northside will always be my favorite church home experience," she remembered our important years together in a thriving young [...]
My Dad’s Handwritten Note
Good morning... I finally found the right moment to open the envelop appearing in our mailbox. One early morning, I unfolded the newspaper and out dropped a note in my dad's handwriting, "We thought that you will enjoy this article. Love, Mom & Dad." "The Camino increasingly draws spiritual pilgrims who are non-religious," reads the title of the article written by Ellie Davis. "In her early [...]
Hope For Elizabeth’s Family
Good morning... When Elizabeth and her husband Graham received her colon cancer diagnosis, prayer was their first response. With honesty and faith she blogged about her cancer journey, inviting us to join their family in fervent prayer. At age thirty-nine, Elizabeth went to heaven this summer, and our prayers continue to surround this special family. Offering an update, I thought you would enjoy reading the posts Graham shared over the past few months. [...]