Nearing the evening, fear likes to invite itself onto my chest. He has waited all day and now has my full attention. The light is fading, the sun is setting below the trees. My throat tightens, my breathing gets more shallow, and I feel my body tense. Anxiety and fear loom in the darkness like …
In these frigid January mornings of the new year, I let my dog out and embrace the chilly stillness. A distant hum of energy is heard from car engines on the highway, but the sun is just emerging over the tree line. A faint pink and orange light breathes up and over the bare branches. …
Social distancing has turned to social isolation. Suicidal rates have increased. We continue to place our hope in instant gratification, on the things we can see, on the most important items in front of us. Our thoughts stay where they originated–in our heads–because we have no community with which to talk. We have become distressed, …
I sat in my women’s small group, becoming quieter and quieter. We were discussing God as our Heavenly Father. And many of the women in my group had had horrific earthly father experiences. They couldn’t quite fathom God as a father. How could they? In fact, it made them very uncomfortable. Their discomfort caused me …
God’s love for us is fierce, all-consuming, sometimes dangerous but always good. So many songs use his love and the ocean as a metaphor. We can’t fathom the richness of his love until we experience the depth of the sea. I observe the yellow flag that whips back and forth in the wind and warns …
Blogging turned into a game of give and take. I would give my heart and soul to my writing. The reaction from others would take my heart and either strip it down to an envious beast or ply it full of self-glory. There seemed to be no in-between. My identity was wrapped up in others’ …
“Come over here,” I motion excitedly to the stairs with my hands. “Let’s try these steps. You can do it, baby!” After many months of being shut indoors, it feels like a rich blessing to breathe in the fresh air of the earth. Breathe in. Breathe out. The sun shines through the luminescent clouds. Joyful …
“Well, that didn’t go well,” I muttered to myself walking out of the interview for a teaching position. God’s plans had moved us down here, but I had fumbled my words and was not forthcoming about my accomplishments. The interview team’s attitude read “not interested.” We were moving, and I needed a teaching job. I …
Step, step, stumble, fall. Right back up. Step, stumble, fall, up, then right back down. Little, rounded feet summon the courage to try again. Moving to a downward dog position, rump in the air, pushing his body to a standing position. Here we go. Protruding belly and arms gaining balance. Over and over and over …
Yes, Lord. I know, Lord. But I need to do this one more thing before I find time to sit and have a quiet time. I had literally done everything I could to ignore the constant nudging at my heart, my head, my entire body to just sit. And write. To just sit. And listen. …
