The Rabbit or the Squirrel?
This summer, we've had a plethora of rabbits around our neighborhood. Nibbling on tufts of grass, settling deep into patches of clover, and devouring our petunias, the pointy-eared hares have thrived amidst the heat wave we have experienced.
Most mornings when I head out the front door to go to work, there is usually a rabbit or two . . .
Posted in: #characterdevelopment#guidance#peace
God of the Undercurrent
A number of weeks ago, I woke up in the middle of the night. As I lay still in the darkness, trying to fall back to sleep, I sensed the Lord speak to me. “Ruth postured herself in a position to receive blessing from Boaz.”
To be honest, I was a bit startled by God's clarity and a tad puzzled by His randomness. I didn’t . . .
Posted in: #characterdevelopment#guidance
MASTERclass
Not too long ago, I came across a video clip of a vocal masterclass. If that term is new to you, a masterclass is an instructional experience for students led by an expert in their field of study. As a piano major in college, I was always fascinated by the unique group learning dynamic of an instructor publically working one-on-one with . . .
Posted in: #characterdevelopment#guidance#leadership
A Lesson in the Clouds
A number of years ago, amidst a season of physical, emotional, and spiritual burnout, I was asked to minister at a funeral. "Perfect," I thought sarcastically, "A dead man ministering at a funeral." Drowning in negativity from the seemingly incessant discouragement that I had been experiencing, the inability to find a . . .
Tracking Details
In the days before Amazon, I made an on-line purchase and had the product delivered via a parcel service. The electronic receipt included a link that allowed you to track the shipping progress. In addition to knowing the anticipated delivery day, I could also follow the "tracking details" of its arrival and departure at each hub on . . .
Posted in: #assurance#guidance#technology
Look for the Beauty
At my precious mom's funeral, one of my brothers eulogized her ability to always "look for the beauty." As he shared, memories of the hours I spent driving my mom through Maine, Pennsylvania, and Tennessee flooded my mind. Often she would point out patches of wildflowers, unique cloud formations, and patterns in sedimentary rock formations . . .
Posted in: #encouragingothers#grief#guidance
It is What it Is...
but what if it's not?
One phrase that I have allowed to slip into my conversational vocabulary is, "Well, it is what it is." Usually, it's accompanied by a resigned sigh and an implied, "Suck it up, buttercup."
It makes sense, then, that as I pondered the account of Jairus in Mark 5, this emotionally acquiesced phrase bubbled to the surface. In the unfolding . . .
