I am a reader. I love books and am a firm believer in “there is no such thing as too many books.”I am one of those readers with several books going at the same time. We are called “poly-readers.” I think it is easier to do that with non-fiction, my usual fare.My husband laughs at me: I have books on the living room end table, the nightstand, on my desk and in my car. And yes I have a Kindle with several books in progress there too.I heard on NPR the Chicago Tribune cultural critic Julia Keller say:“I mean, I like the idea of books, not just this thing off to the side of our lives, but they're right in the midst of our lives. We're, in effect, living our fiction and our nonfiction. And you can do that when you're reading multiple books. You do kind of just get this idea that you're moving through this forest of words and stories and characters. It's not just this block of paper or a Kindle or an iPad sitting at your elbow. It's a part of your life. It's something you're moving through, … [Read more...]
A Golf Lesson for a Non-golfer
Patty Wysong has created a fun meme where once a week bloggers posted on the letter of the week. Check out the details here. It is called A2Z: Take 2. A2Z as she challenges bloggers to write a post each week going through the alphabet. Take 2 since this is the second time she has used this meme. Anyone can join in and you don’t have to always participate. This fun meme has now progressed to the letter NN = Never Give Up!I don’t golf.I don’t like golf.I don’t watch golf.I am not even good at miniature golf.So what captivating me about Sunday’s climatic finish to the Masters Tournament?To be honest I turned on the television to watch 60 Minutes. Where was my familiar tick-tick of the beginning of the show? Oh no! Stupid golf, the big tournament called the Masters, was still being broadcast.They went into extra innings. Overtime. Ok, that isn’t what it is called, but again I don’t like golf. I laughed because when there is a tie, golfers are in sudden death. Couldn’t come soon enough for … [Read more...]
Easter Morning: Jesus Knows Our Names
Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot.They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?”“They have taken my Lord away,” she said, “and I don’t know where they have put him.”At this, she turned around and saw Jesus standing there, but she did not realize that it was Jesus.He asked her, “Woman, why are you crying? Who is it you are looking for?”Thinking he was the gardener, she said, “Sir, if you have carried him away, tell me where you have put him, and I will get him.”Jesus said to her, “Mary.”She turned toward him and cried out in Aramaic, “Rabboni!” (which means “Teacher”).John 20:11-16Jesus said to her, “Mary.”Oh Lord, how I would have loved to be there – that morning of Your resurrection.To be by the tomb watching You smile at Mary, saying her name.What was it like for Mary? I can only imagine: “Was it only three days … [Read more...]
Praying our Uncertainties – a Holy Saturday Quote
Take time to pray your uncertainties, lifting them up to God for comfort and guidance, knowing God is with us in the wilderness.Life is often a time of Holy Saturdays with no resurrection in sight. Like the "valley of the shadow" of Psalm 23, we can train our senses and heart and mind to experience God's Spirit in the darkest valleys. We can gain sympathy for those persons who are struggling as we face our own Holy Saturday struggles. While our resurrections are uncertain—our successes still in suspense—we can listen for God's voice of companionship, care, and counsel as we live the uncertainty of Holy Saturday.Bruce Epperly … [Read more...]
An Easter Mommyism to Remember
We all have them, tucked into our hearts and seared in our memories.Certain classic phrases our mothers said to us. Here are a few I remember my mom proclaiming:If all your friends jumped off the bridge, would you?Don’t put that ketchup bottle on the table.God loves you and so do I.As long as you live under my roof, you'll do as I say.Close the door! You don't live in a barn. Drink your milk before all the bubbles disappear and you will have curly hair. I think the funniest and most unusual saying she had and one my kids still laugh about today is this:Wish in one hand and pee in the other and see which one you fill first.Mom didn’t want me to wish my life away. Dreams were important, but so was the hard work to achieve them.Fun Mother Mottos.But there was one axiom she said that has helped me more than once. WAIT THREE DAYS.Mom would use this expression whenever I was depressed or discouraged or unable to make a decision. She would say, “Wait three days. Imagine what it was like for … [Read more...]
Manners – Good Manners and God Manners
Patty Wysong has created a fun meme where once a week bloggers posted on the letter of the week. Check out the details here. It is called A2Z: Take 2. A2Z as she challenges bloggers to write a post each week going through the alphabet. Take 2 since this is the second time she has used this meme. Anyone can join in and you don’t have to always participate. This week’s letter is M:M = Manners1993. I was working fulltime as the county health commissioner and had the opportunity to go to NYC with two of my fellow commissioners to a national conference. We stayed in midtown Manhattan, enabling us to sightsee in between sessions.One of my strongest memories of that trip is not the Big Apple, but my traveling companion, Hans, and his impeccable manners. He held doors open for us, pulled our chairs out at the table, and walked on the curbside of the sidewalk.Do you know the origin of that last gentlemanly behavior? In olden days, chivalry called for the man to walk next to the street to act … [Read more...]
After the Parade of Palms – Lectio Divina
The people gave him a wonderful welcome, some throwing their coats on the street, others spreading out rushes they had cut in the fields. Running ahead and following after, they were calling out, Hosanna! Blessed is he who comes in God's name! Blessed the coming kingdom of our father David! Hosanna in highest heaven!He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. Mark 11: 8-11a (The Message)He looked around, taking it all in. Lord, I hear once again about Your triumphant entry into Jerusalem.We hold our palms in church and wave them as we enter with the first hymn.I listen to the words from Mark, joining the multitude with a loud Hosanna!But when I reread these words later – I notice one person not saying anything – You.No comment.No grand speech to match the cheering crowd.No memorable lines to put on a plaque or copy to Pinterest.You were silent.He entered Jerusalem, then entered the Temple. He looked around, taking it all in. You looked … [Read more...]
The Promise of Resurrection – Quote of the Week – Martin Luther
Spring Blossoms Outside My Door (Photo credit: Josiah Mackenzie)Our Lord has written the promise of the resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in spring-time. Martin Luther … [Read more...]