Welcome In Or Lock Out?
Good morning... Scrolling through photos I took over the weekend in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico, I am struck by the dichotomy of this expressive photo. Look at the details. What do you see? Now up in the middle of the night, I reflect on my way of living and wonder, "Am I learning to welcome all or am I stuck in the habit of securing old, rusty locks?" In this immediate moment, [...]
A Married Couple Makes Fire
Good morning... On a ninety degree evening in June, my husband Steve performed a wedding for one of his former Lovett wrestlers in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The setting could not have been more perfect, as the slowly descending sun snuck behind a mammoth tree on a bustling street corner beside the historic waters. Walking down the pastel-colored street from the hotel to the ceremony, two unique individuals were surrounded by friends, [...]
Two Birthday Girls
Good morning... Yesterday, June 9th, hosted two special birthdays. My mom turned 86 years old in Ohio, and Audrey DeShetler turned 19 years old here in Atlanta. Born on the same day, sixty-seven years apart, both of these women have a strong drive to live life fully. After falling last Monday night and having surgery to repair a broken hip on Tuesday afternoon, my [...]
Our Deepest Hope
Good morning... Our deepest hope is Galatians 2:20, quoted here in the New Living Translation. My old self has been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me. So I live in this earthly body by trusting in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me. The life of the risen Christ now rises up in us, as we trust in the [...]
Why Bother?
Good morning... "Why bother?" asks Sean Thomas Dougherty. Then, he answers his own question. "Because right now, there is someone out there with a wound in the exact shape of your words." Painful wounds and healing words meet at the right moment. Here, at the crossroads of wounds and words, God's presence is palpable. Might the power of God's presence be enough for us to bother? But Jacob stayed behind by himself, and [...]
United In Pain And Sorrow
Good morning... When a friend from our Friday group sent the quote and image above, we collectively embraced the eternal truth. "Hearts united in pain and sorrow will not be separated by joy and happiness," says Khalil Gibran. "Bonds that are woven in sadness are stronger than the ties of joy and pleasure. Love that is washed by tears will remain eternally pure and beautiful." Pain. Sorrow. Sadness. Tears. If given the option, [...]
Yeah Mom!
Good morning... Brewing coffee for my dad and myself, I drank from her "Yeah Mom!" mug. Before surgery to repair her broken hip, I was so grateful to see my mom, to kiss her on the forehead, and to share with her my love. After my sister took me to the airport for my return trip back to Atlanta, I was glued to our family text string throughout the day. "Just talked to [...]
My Mom Suddenly Fell
Good morning... We enjoyed a slow, low-key day after my parents' joyful Music Man performance at their senior living community in Ohio. Waking late. Talking over breakfast. Enjoying a relaxing morning together. Going to an appointment with the eye doctor. Grateful for good news, "Everything looks great." Stopping by Dairy Queen to order an ice cream cake for my mom's 86th birthday party on Sunday. In the late afternoon, my parents got gussied [...]
Enjoy Aging Parents
Good morning... Parents age. Heck, we all age. Might we enjoy supporting this natural process? As we mature, life's essentials become key. Eating. Sleeping. Feeling well. Nurturing friendships. Connecting with family. Remembering good times. I enjoy visiting my parents in Ohio, because I quite easily relax into their slower pace. Coffee. Banana. Peanut butter. Conversations about life. Planning a few things for each day. A walk. A drive. A doctor appointment. What to [...]
Elizabeth. Audrey. My Mom.
Good morning... I walked by a little purple-white pansy peeking up through a lush sea of green grass. With rows and rows of neatly placed flowers looking on from a nearby bed, this one persistent pansy somehow appeared in a place it was not planted. Bold. Beguiling. Beautiful. Now I explore the meaning behind this dainty delight. The word “pansy” is derived from the mid-15th century French word “penser,” which means to think [...]
Experiencing Jet Lag
Good morning... Wow. Jet lag is a real thing. I just flew back two days ago from an amazing five day trip to California. I can attest, jet lag is a real thing. Uncharacteristic of me, the last two nights I've stayed up way past midnight, binge-watching my happy recordings of this season of American Idol. (Fortunately, Steve is away with Lovett students in Greece, tracking the travels of Paul). This is the [...]
See Slow, Small Things
Good morning... As we peer through our window into the day at hand, do we see the slow, small things quietly taking God's time? Snails. Erosion. Transformation. Organic growth. Healing whole. Blossoming relationships. Living in peace. The dying process. Becoming like Christ. Learning to listen well to God. In a world that values faster, bigger, louder, so much of what God does is slow, small, quiet. This story from 1 Kings 19:11-13 (MEV) [...]