Waking up
I flew cross-country this past week. That’s a chunk of hours in a confined space, in seats designed for the undernourished. I’m just sayin’. Across the aisle sit three women, one holding an infant. I catch myself saying a silent…
Everybody hurts
“I’ve lost my way.” One man confesses to his friend. “And it’s not good, because I don’t know how much more I can take." “I understand,” his friend says. “I don’t know what is next, but I think I’m close…
Repairing the world
Some days, we wake up in a world that is not a friend of grace. At least, it doesn’t feel so. This past Thursday put a spotlight on what we know to be true, we live in very broken world.…
Embrace our brokenness
Two men visiting Hong Kong, noticed the ubiquity of street vendors, all pushing their carts along, pell-mell, in and out of traffic. Attempting to gain the attention of any potential customer, they would shout repeatedly, "Sale! Sale! Good items for sale!" So numerous were these vendors that the men found…
Let us taste this life
“I hate people. I hate life. I hate the world.” Lucy is apoplectic. “I thought you had inner peace,” Charlie Brown says to her. “I do,” Lucy responds. “But I have a lot of outer obnoxiousness.” Speaking of life’s…
The world needs healers
For one whole week, in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, I was without wifi. This is grim. I couldn’t even Google remedies for wifi withdrawal. I am not interested in TV, so was blissfully without the news. Except it’s like going to…
Won’t you be my neighbor?
Friday night I went to church. I usually don’t take Kleenex to church. Turns out I needed it. The congregation of receptive and appreciative islanders gathered at the Vashon Theater. Our opening hymn, “Won’t you be my neighbor?” brought smiles…
Language of the heart
I was raised Baptist, which meant I went to Sunday School. Every Sunday. No exceptions. And in Sunday School, you absorbed Bible stories. The Tower of Babel story always captivated me, perfect for a child's imagination with graphics of a…
Touch the angel’s hand
This week I received a letter that restored my heart. A balm to my soul. Well, truth be told, the letter was written and sent in 1513. Let’s just say it took a while to get to me. You see,…
Redemptive power of love
A frail old man went to live with his son, daughter-in-law, and four-year old grandson. The old man's hands trembled, his eyesight was blurred, and his step faltered. The family ate together at the table. But the elderly grandfather's shaky hands and failing sight made eating an adventure. Food fell off his spoon onto the floor. When he…
