I see the point of a soft pink triangle that cuts between two pine trees to the southeast, and a sparrow lands on a bare branch just outside my window. I peel back the Target-bought shabby chic quilt, the white one striped with pink roses, and slide from between crisp white sheets, careful to not […]
When Loss is Real–or Not
I’m better this morning. Last night I hid in the bathroom for a few moments where I flushed the toilet (so the husband and the grandgirl wouldn’t ask what was going on with me.) I blew my nose, popped my contacts, rubbed my eyes hard, and ran cold water over my face. I didn’t want […]
Scripture Sunday: His Love Endures
Still Saturday: Catching Quiet
It is a hard art to learn, catching quiet by palms raised cupped in air shifting location here and there like trying to guess the pattern of falling leaves, and hoping to feel the soft descent of moments when silence slips between sounds. ~Enuma Okoro from “Passing Ordinary Time” as found in At the Still […]
Book Review: A Monk in High Heels
Brenda Keller was a desperate college sophomore when she made her first call “hoping they would in fact not have an opening. Ever.” Her professor had told her openings were “few and far between” and sometimes scheduled a year or more in advance. But there was a cancellation. And so she stumbled into the […]
When the Election Looms
In you, Lord my God, I put my trust. ~Psalm 25:1 (NIV) We stopped at a dingy dive somewhere along the Illinois River where a group of locals played cards at a back table. My husband ordered a fish sandwich, and even he who can eat everything could not stomach the huge hunk of […]
Scripture Sunday: When All Seems Lost
Still Saturday: Taking Time
“We simply haven’t taken time. We’ve not been still long enough, often enough, to know ourselves, our friends, our family. Our God. Indeed, the worst hallucination busyness conjures is the conviction that I am God. All depends on me. How will the right things happen at the right time if I’m not pushing and pulling and […]
When You’re Rooted in Grief
“I don’t know why I’m so exhausted,” I text. “The weather,” she responds. I toss and turn and dream and wake up and doze and wake up. Energy wanes. We’ve eaten out more than in. I wonder–could the root be grief? Is that what’s gripped me in the gray of these cold days? Did […]
Word Candy: When You’re Feeling a Little Dry
Have you heard about the new app in town? It’s this shoppe where you can stop and stir up a little sweetness, kindle some courage, whisper words of wisdom, and more. Pick a category, choose a line, and then match it with a photo. Create an encouraging card to share with friends on your blog, via […]
