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 […]
Senses of Joy (Retitled Repost)
Sometimes joy hides right in the open, waits for me to notice. thrums with sweet surprises to melt life bitter while I look squinty eyed right at her or past her or through her. But with my God-tinted lenses, I see her in the midst of the storm. And a grandgirl hidden in Yahweh. I […]
To Learn
Until we accept the fact that life itself is founded in mystery, we shall learn nothing. ~Henry Miller
More Than Enough
“Take some more tea,” the March Hare said to Alice, very earnestly. “I’ve had nothing yet,” Alice replied in an offended tone, “so I can’t take more.” “You mean you can’t take less,” said the Hatter. “it’s very easy to take more than nothing.” More Than Enough More always more to do to […]
