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 . . .
Awakening
I want it... and I need it
Not too long ago, I came across a video capturing the moment an infant's cochlear implant was activated. Appearing to be uncomfortable with the sound processor attached to his head, the baby squirmed in his mother's lap. In the background, the audiologist explained what was about to happen and then signaled that the receiver was now turned . . .
Posted in: #characterdevelopment#guidance#healing
Willing to Wait
One morning before work, I felt prompted to take a miniature tin bucket with me to give to a family. Pausing to listen for further guidance from the Holy Spirit, I felt that I was to share the following word of exhortation with them and then to present the little pail as a tangible reminder of God's promise to them.
Here is what I sensed . . .
Posted in: #encouragingothers#guidance#workplace
Proceed to the Route
After getting rear-ended a couple of weeks ago, our insurance company provided a rental while our car was being repaired. A blessing amidst that upheaval was the fun of driving a well-equipped new car that included Apple CarPlay. This feature allowed the Maps app on my iPhone to be displayed on the built-in dashboard screen.
One evening . . .
Posted in: #assurance#guidance#technology
Someone Else's Mess
Sometimes there's grace to clean it up
A number of years ago, we made the 22 hour trip to Maine with our dog, Sophie. She loved the cottage where we stayed and enjoyed taking long naps on the cozy couch opposite the fireplace. One afternoon, a neighbor came by to introduce herself with her three Labrador Retrievers in tow. Not confident in how Sophie might react to these canine . . .
Posted in: #characterdevelopment#guidance#peace
Missed the Bus?
Growing up in a small town seven miles north of our public school campus meant that we had to catch the bus quite early in the morning. Because the high school started first, my sister was usually at the bus stop around 6:15 am. About a half hour later, I would join the other middle schoolers in my neighborhood to wait for our turn on #49.
. . .Posted in: #assurance#guidance#hope
