JONATHAN C DOW

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 . . .

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May 01, 2021

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 . . .

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January 01, 2021

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 . . .

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August 01, 2020

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 . . .

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June 01, 2020

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 . . .

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May 01, 2020

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 . . .

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April 01, 2020

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 . . .

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March 01, 2020

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