Category: listening

For when you don’t understand the plans

NBA stars. When my big boys were little boys that was their dream job. Or NFL running backs. They’d settle for either as long as it involved being famous and playing ball. Turns out genetics are completely against …

My Country, ‘Tis of Thee

A pandemic that will not end, economic uncertainty, political unrest, racial inequality … and the 4th of July. I do not even know how to begin this post. I’ve retyped the opening sentences a hundred times because, friends, …

Choosing Words

Tongue-tied. That’s how I have found myself lately. Despite the fact that I have read a lot of words; listened to a lot of words; and even said a lot of words about all that is going on …

Willing to be salt and light on a regular Friday?

So here we are at the end of this strange month of May, and life still feels far from normal. Re-opening the world while continuing to fight an invisible virus has proved to be more complicated and more …

For the love of directions

My husband did not fall in love with me for my sense of direction. Or my ability to read maps. This became apparent the first time he told me to go west when making a turn. Left and …

What do you see?

He looks so little stumbling into the hallway with his blanket draped around him. “It’s happening again,” he cries. “Everything I see is zooming in and zooming out. Make it stop mom! Make it stop!” I’m still half …

The Music of Hope

This first week of Advent has blown through in a bit of a blur; the calendar pushing and pulling in all directions and filling the week of hope with distraction I keep trying to see through. But, last …

What if you could be the answer to someone’s prayer?

She did not know about my day. The burned waffles, the lost keys, the cranky teenagers, the hard discussions and the difficult things I was turning over in my brain were not her concern. She didn’t know the …

How to chase a bear off a mountain

I am having trouble walking this week. And it’s my own fault. Or maybe I can blame the bear? I’m not sure. But there’s a story and a lesson here, I think. So I’m trying to pay attention.

So many words. So much power.

“She’s probably the loudest teacher I’ve ever met. She uses so many words. And she never stands still. We all think she’s crazy. Her name’s Mrs. Sain. You’ll see when you meet her. Don’t put your head down …