Sophonie scratches words on peach-colored concrete with a sliver of yellow chalk. She points to them and then to herself. “God. Me. Father. Mother.” I pull her close and nod. “Yes. God. He’s your father and your mother.” And He’s enough. Jeffrey’s fifteen, he says. He speaks English. I ask how long he’s […]
Drink Up All
How many times have I traveled this road as it bends and curves? Enough lately so I dare to look around and let the Journey carry me. It downshifts itself to climb. Carmine and golden hills surround me. I’m in ski country. My dad says this road was once an Indian trail that led from Petoskey to Alpena. Gray […]
When Hospitality Is Caked With Dust
Show hospitality to one another without grumbling. (1 Peter 4:9 ESV) My dad’s told the story a quadrillion times. How I overheard him say he’d like fish and fried potatoes for breakfast. So one morning I rose early (Dad says I was probably only 10 years old), grabbed my fishing pole and a can of […]
Live Happy: What Happiness Means To Me
Every year my heart pounds for our hometown Alpenfest Queen’s Pageant contestants during the impromptu question time. I still remember the question I drew when I ran a bazillion years back: “What does happiness mean to you?” I stammered an answer I’m sure was unintelligible. Afterwards, my mom told me I should have said something like, “Happiness means […]
Art Matters: Making Art
In her book, A Million Little Ways: Uncover the Art You Were Made to Live Emily Freeman writes, You have the capacity to perform the human act of making art, of doing work that comes from deep within you and touches something deep within me. We make art with our lives. My friend, Carolyn, makes art […]
Becoming Mindful in Place: Mosquito
There’s a cloud of them, forming and re-forming like an angry amoeba. They’re battering the windows like marauding movie zombies. They. Want. My. Blood. “But it’s AB,” I yell at them. “My blood is AB-negative. You like it O. O-positive. I read that somewhere.” It must be my scent. Or the fact I’m now […]
When You’re Unexpecting
I know something’s up when the usher hands me a scrap of green ribbon. It’s not like our pastor hasn’t told us to expect the unexpected. That’s the title of this month’s sermon series, after all. And he believes in fun. I’m hoping this is fun. We find a seat front and center, our […]
Some Ramblings On Charleston
I’ve been mostly silent about Charleston, stunned and saddened and totally at a loss to understand the hatred directed toward someone whose skin color just happens to be a different shade. I’ve also been hesitant to speak or write for fear of saying something too stupid, too simple, too superficial. Of speaking without understanding. Of being […]
Becoming Mindful in Place: When You Don’t Feel Like Walking
I’ve been crying again and don’t really feel like doing this walking assignment for my Becoming Mindful in Place workshop, but I carry my key and a heavy heart out to the garage. I drive Hope, my new red Jeep, down the paved entrance lined by American flags and through the gate. I bear […]
All I Want For Christmas Is…
I’m off on another hunt that takes me under the couch cushion, inside a chartreuse kitchen cupboard, under the gray Formica table, behind the toaster, on top of my parents’ dresser, and finally into the oven. I stare at the package tied up with string, and the fun fades. I so don’t want a […]
