Redemption of Mother’s Day: How to Heal Your Hurts
About two hours after Mother’s Day ended, my mother died in her bed of a massive heart attack. She was 65. Mom called her doctor, only hours after I talked with her the morning of that special day. He told her to get to the hospital ASAP after hearing her symptoms—profuse sweating, vomiting, shoulder pain. […]
On the Edge: How Now Shall We Live?
Here is the world. You can kiss your family and friends good-bye and put miles between you, but at the same time, you carry them with you in your heart, your mind, your stomach, because you do not just live in a world but a world lives in you. Frederick Buechner Our float plane’s […]
What Happens When the Hurting Seek Help
He comes up to me and leans in close to my ear. Will you pray for me? Of course, I say as I look into his eyes starting to well with tears. He reaches into his pocket and pulls out a handkerchief, dabs both his eyes, and with trembling voice tells me straight . . […]
Left and Right Wings (Raw Writing–Unapologetically Unedited)
I flew to St. Martin on the day of the presidential inauguration. Leaving my home at four in the morning with a negative six degrees Fahrenheit freezing my bare ankles, I drove forty-five minutes south and parked my car in Remote Lot A. Thankfully, the airport shuttle had just arrived at the shelter. A young […]
At the End of My Rope and What Came Next
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10 I have a love/hate relationship with spiritual growth. Actually, I prefer to do things I love. I prefer to […]
Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary
Mary, Mary, quite contrary, how does your garden grow? My mom read this poem to me as a kid what seems like a gazillion times, a gazillion years ago. I never once wondered what it meant. Now, I wonder. And I’m perplexed. Exactly WHY was Mary contrary? Contrary. Webster defines . . . Opposite. Incompatible […]
When The God We Believe is Righteous Doesn’t Seem to Be Delivering
The sorrows of those will increase who run after other gods. Psalm 16:4 Really, Jesus? I don’t see the sorrows of those who run after other gods increasing. I don’t even see any sorrow. In fact, we seem happy, rejoicing, running through vibrant green fields of self-seeking pleasure, free. In fact, I see us showing […]
Terrier Terror and What We Have In Common With Dogs
Instinct. That’s what it is—the reason why our little terrier pup scared me by running off into the wild blue yonder after that rabbit. Downright ignored the red bell. And the shaking salami container. Why? Because Baker just had to. Because that’s what dogs do. They follow their nose. Instinct. That’s what drives us all, […]
On Our Knees—Together, Part 2
We need to stand in the gap for the vulnerable and give them the best news of life—the gospel. This piece is the continuation of Wednesday’s post about the boy who threatened to kill our son, his friend, his biological father, and himself. He had a plan. He was serious. He was a desperate, hurting soul. […]
Get Real and Heal
Ok. So here I go again, getting all vulnerable and transparent. I hate it. And I love it. I hate it because why in the world would anyone want to expose themselves for anyone and everyone to see, to know? Because such raw exposure can have devastating consequences. For heaven’s sake! Someone I don’t know […]
Open
How to find true love and life in loss . . . We’ve all experienced it, you know. Loss. It’s a reality of our broken world. We lose jobs to the economy. We lose friends and family through misunderstandings and betrayals. We lose spouses through divorce. We lose health through illness or accident. We lose […]
Keeping It Real, Again
Well, I’m taking it easy today because we’ve had a long, hard week and my flesh is quite tired though my spirit is gaining strength. And I’m writing again today because it soothes me and teaches me. As I lean into God and listen for His words, He always comes shedding light and insight, refreshing […]