A day filled with noise and voices can be a day of silence, if the noises become for us the echo of the presence of God, if the voices are, for us, messages and solicitations of God. When we speak of ourselves and are filled with ourselves, we leave silence behind. When we repeat the […]
Still Saturday: The Unfurling
Five Minute Friday: Sacred Sod
“I need to go plant flowers at the cemetery this weekend,” I said. “When you and Dad are gone, will I have to do that?” My daughter brushes a blond strand off her forehead. “You don’t have to,” I smile. “I mean, is it my job, my responsibility?” I shrug. “I like to do it. […]
Unwrapping the Gift(s)
What does it look like to live a good story? Am I living a good story? Why does it matter? Those are questions the folks over at Prodigal Magazine have been wrestling with. My mom lived a good story, and we celebrated her life six months ago. I’m reposting this today in order to join […]
The Artist’s Way: Descent into Ashes
I’ve written about the story before. The one I wrote and sent to the local paper–just like Jo in Little Women. How the newspaper sent it back–rejected. They might have sent an encouraging note, but I don’t remember. I only knew they didn’t want it. It wasn’t good enough. I wasn’t good enough. I threw […]
Red is . . . (a color poem)
Red is a geranium, the only flower I can’t kill. It’s a blood orange in the west and a sign that means stop. Red is the crunch of leaves, a cardinal’s song, and hummingbirds fighting at the feeder. It’s a barn full of stomping hooves and swishing tails. Red is a warm tomato fresh […]
Spring Fling on the Farm
We load up the grand girls (and my artist child–just in case she and I don’t get away alone this week) and pay a visit to a Spring Fling on the Farm where we can bask in the fragrance of sheep urine and donkey dung. But the sheep don’t smell, and the donkey doesn’t ding. […]
Scripture Sunday: Ignite the Kingdom Life
“I’m baptizing you here in the river, turning your old life in for a kingdom life. The real action comes next: The main character in this drama —compared to him I’m a mere stagehand— will ignite the kingdom life within you, a fire within you, the Holy Spirit within you, changing you from the inside […]
Still Saturday: Uncrowd My Heart
“Uncrowd my heart, O God, until silence speaks in your still, small voice; turn me from the hearing of words, and the making of words, and the confusion of much speaking, to listening, waiting, stillness, silence.” ~Esther DeWaal “Listen to the silence, let it enfold you, like a piece of music, like bird-watching.” ~Esther […]
Five Minute Friday: The Lace of Life
My baby dress–crocheted by my Aunt Esther in 1949. “Grandma! Grandma! A worm. A worm in my room!” She sounds hysterical. I leap out of bed. “I’m coming! I’m coming!” She’s reacting to a new medicine. Not so well. “Don’t open the door! It’ll fall on your head! It’s moving!” She’s sobbing. I run to […]
