He came on a colt. The fragrance of His coming preceded Him. A King bent on a peace mission. Hailed in the name of the Lord. But hearts would harden, spittle would fly, and fists would fall. Bone-and-metal-tipped strips would find their marks. He would be ripped apart like the temple curtain. Thorns would gash […]
When the F-Word’s Caught in a Web
I play the word game puzzle letters in bits and pieces lose scraps in dusty corners and the F-word’s caught in a web. So I plant potatoes in my bed, chase gophers in the garden, do battle with aliens, and have tea with a purple moth. Wait until it all comes around and a […]
A Here-We-Go-Again Life
The fragrance of April Fresh wafts from the jumble of warm towels next to me. I smile as I watch two robins scuffle in the front yard. I pull out a sage green towel, pinch two corners together, fold the length in half two corners to four, fold again and smooth on stacked pile. When […]
Scripture Sunday: On the Way to Jerusalem
Jesus, now well on the way up to Jerusalem, took the Twelve off to the side of the road and said, “Listen to me carefully. We are on our way up to Jerusalem. When we get there, the Son of Man will be betrayed to the religious leaders and scholars. They will sentence him to […]
Still Saturday: Miraculous Change
If Spring came but once in a century, instead of once a year, or burst forth with the sound of an earthquake, and not in silence, what wonder and expectation there would be in all hearts to behold the miraculous change! But now the silent succession suggests nothing but necessity. To most men only the […]
Scripture Sunday: Green Shoot and Budding Branch
A green Shoot will sprout from Jesse’s stump, from his roots a budding Branch. The life-giving Spirit of God will hover over him, the Spirit that brings wisdom and understanding, the Spirit that gives direction and builds strength, the Spirit that instills knowledge and Fear-of-God. Fear-of-God will be all his joy and delight. ~Isaiah 11:1-5 […]
Still Saturday: Stopped Still on Lake Abby
Last Sunday it was a lone bufflehead duck on Lake Abby. This week a pair of hooded mergansers! All new to these eyes. Also one mouthy mallard. And a robin with an attitude. God’s artistry on display at “Lake Abby.” A mirror of beauty created by brokenness (a broken drain in […]
In Which I Pin a Bat With a Ragu Jar
(Photo has absolutely nothing to do with this story because… leaking bat) It is loud here. Very. Loud. It all starts when oldest grand girl comes out of her bedroom and begins to scream about the bat swooping over my head and around the living room and into the kitchen and back into the living […]
A Magnificent Yes!
My throat twisted in that familiar knot, and my stomach reached up and pulled it tighter. Why did I always assume I’d done something wrong when someone in authority called? But it turns out my boss only wanted me to take a new project because she felt I could do a dandy job. The mouse […]
Accepting What is and Walking in the Flames
I see it from the kitchen window. The plum tree behind the what-used-to-be-the-chicken-house. It exploded into fragrant bee-laden blooms overnight. And I know those tiny bunches of purple-puckered balloons weren’t there yesterday. Last year I forced forsythia inside because I was so desperate for joy color. But it’s already burst into fire in the shade […]
