Good morning... Last Sunday, I worshiped with my friend at Swannanoa Church in Swannanoa, North Carolina. Hurricane Helene devastated much of the area one year ago this week. Friendly, multi-generational, bursting with authentic connection, the community church felt real and restorative. "There is nothing like living through tragedy together to create a lasting bond," I thought to myself. [...]
Good morning... Last weekend, I visited a friend in Black Mountain, North Carolina. I asked her to take me around to see places devastated by Hurricane Helene, and I listened as she shared her experience of the tremendous tragedy. The vicious storm struck in the middle of the night on September 27, 2024, (one year ago right now) [...]
Good morning... Yesterday, we celebrated our friend's birthday in her beautiful, newly-built abode. Her welcoming home has been a two and a half year building project, a complete labor of love. Our fabulous friendship has been a nearly twenty year building project, a complete gift of God's love. We have journeyed beside Jennifer DeShelter (top left corner) as [...]
Good morning... On Saturday afternoon, I received his email. A tried and true friend, his words always boost me. "Hi, Sue," he wrote. "I encourage you to read Patricia Holbrook’s column on page C2 of today’s AJC, entitled 'When grief teaches us to live without regret.' I particularly like these words: 'For those of us left behind, though, [...]
Good morning... A friend reached out yesterday. "Good morning Sue - I know your heart is very heavy, sending prayers for peace and comfort. I am sending you a video link. I saw it right after the devastating flood tragedy in Texas earlier this summer. Pastor Levi Lusko shared his perspective of God moving mountains in light of [...]
Good morning... "I often think I don’t know how people endure the unimaginable," my friend wrote, "but then I realize I actually really do know - only God. And I see evidence of that in so much devastating heartbreak time and time again. I think of that Steven Curtis Chapman quote, spoken after losing his young daughter suddenly [...]
Good morning... On this day designated "World Gratitude Day", we experience the raw bittersweetness of life. As a praying community, we prepare for tomorrow's memorial service for sixteen year old Benji Reiser. "Good morning Sue," a friend wrote yesterday. "I read Benji's obituary and genuinely cannot imagine the devastation not only in his family but also among his [...]
Good morning... At church this week, I stopped in the hall and talked a while with our Director of Student Ministries. I told him that I had heard he had done a really good job supporting the students who came to youth group on Sunday night. The night before, one of our own, sixteen year old Benji Reiser [...]
Good morning... For two fertile hours, I held it all, touched the joys and honored the sorrows. Our second fitness class, The Ministry of Movement, brought creative connection to about twenty-five vibrant women. Some have been through knee and back surgeries. Some are grieving the loss of loved ones. Some are living with a dreaded diagnosis. Some are [...]
Good morning... My friendship with inspiring fitness instructor Martha Kimbel is truly a gift from God. At 6:07 am yesterday, Martha texted me. "I have our new song on repeat this morning & it’s better than coffee! 💃🏻🎶 Loved your message again this morning & I’m so deeply honored to be in the same writing as Katherine Wolf. [...]
