Monthly Archives: August 2014
Sticks and Stones…
When I was growing up, we used to say, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” I suppose as a child I really believed that. Young children often say mean things to one another. I guess I really never gave it too much thought when I was younger. By … Continue reading
Be Careful What You Plant
A few years ago, my parents installed a huge, industrial type fence around their pool. My mama was desperately looking for something to soften and camouflage that fence. I had seen some pampas grass at a pool I visited. It looked beachy, kind of like sea oats and it was cheap. They planted a lot … Continue reading
Confessions of a Reformed (Mostly) Spider Hater
I have hated spiders almost as long as I can remember. They have lots of legs and eyes and they make those webs that get all over you if you accidentally walk through them. It’s very easy to walk through them because you can’t see them unless the sun hits them just right. That’s another … Continue reading
What is Your Capacity for Busyness?
We had a guest pastor yesterday in church. His focus was on the 23rd Psalm and Jesus as the Good Shepherd. He went on to say that busyness is the great enemy of spiritual life today and that everyone is hardwired with a different capacity for busyness. I never really thought about it that … Continue reading
The Magic of Breaking Bread Together
I received a text on Saturday afternoon from our new neighbors. It said, “We’re throwing some burgers on the grill later, Jeff and Tina are coming. Ya’ll are welcome to join us.” Just like that; a dinner party was born. It was very informal. We all brought a little something to share. There were kids … Continue reading
The Waiting Place
“You can get so confused that you’ll start into race down long wiggled roads at a break-necking pace and grind on for miles across weirdish wild space, headed, I fear, toward a most useless place. The Waiting Place….for people just waiting.” Dr. Seuss In his book , Oh the Places You’ll Go!” Dr. Seuss describes … Continue reading
Spiritual Molts
My son, bless him, is an avid collector of just about anything. My daughter calls him a hoarder. Aren’t siblings fabulous? He is truly fascinated by God’s creation and will pick up anything that catches his eye from rocks to shells. When we happened upon this horseshoe crab, on our vacation this summer, he was … Continue reading
How Are You Doing As a Custodian of Faith?
I was working as a substitute teacher last week and we had the fourth graders out on the playground. I had my eyes on the kids on the swings when some commotion on the basketball court caught my attention. Apparently, some wasps had made a nest inside the basketball goal. When the basketball was thrown into … Continue reading
Praying for Hope
The world is still reeling from the news last week of the death of Robin Williams. The fact that it was suicide makes it even more devastating. How could a man who brought so much joy and laughter to the lives of so many people, actually take his own life? As we were all grasping … Continue reading
Appreciating the Bare Spots
There is a limb on an oak tree, outside my bathroom window, with no leaves on it. It annoys me every time I look out at the trees. It’s surrounded by limbs full of lush green leaves. Instead of appreciating all of the beautiful foliage that surrounds it, my eyes always seem to go directly … Continue reading