Month: August 2011

I began my day, as I always do, reading my Bible, praying for family and friends, enjoying the view from my sunroom, and watching the birds at the feeders. All of a sudden, my eye caught a bright flash of … Read more

"I cherish the sacred place of solitude … an abyss opening up in the center of my soul." – Peter Feldmeier Have you ever found yourself utterly alone — perhaps through rejection or exclusion, or simply through exhaustion from doing … Read more

"Random" is a trend term. Middle school-age students use it for a level of cool. Random is out of our control — we're unable to manage, manipulate, or direct it. Random is unrelated to the thought process of a conversation. … Read more

Yeast rolls are a sumptuous delight when served piping hot. In fact, when served at a restaurant, I could make my meal on them and would almost choose them instead of a high-quality steak. There is just something about the … Read more

We have a Fellowship Team at our church, which has sometimes jovially been called "the Ministry of Parties" because of all the social events that the team organizes. To some people, it may appear that way, but I know the … Read more

Several months ago, I developed a state of extreme fatigue. No matter how many naps I took, I was always tired. It turned out that I had pneumonia. This fact was a blessing in disguise, since it led to the … Read more

According to Wikipedia, the expression "normalcy bias" refers to a mental state in which people underestimate or ignore the obvious signs of a coming crisis simply because it has never happened before. This reasoning can be applied to the attitudes … Read more

In the winter, the cold and snow cause the attendance at our small church to dwindle to a handful, but in the summer, when the "snowbirds" return, so does our attendance. Nevertheless, our Congregational Life Committee has been searching for … Read more

Not too long ago, I wrote about my husband having a mini-stroke during surgery on his carotid artery. I was overwhelmed at the e-mail responses I received. To see such tremendous support from writers and readers alike brought a thankful … Read more

Every eye in the congregation was transfixed by the light. The altar's peace candle had melted down, igniting the puddle of wax at its base, instantaneously transforming the flickering flame into a leaping, dancing passion. How timely, I mused, as … Read more