One Step into Understanding Courage

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Since the word “courage” crashed landed into my heart last fall and declared itself my word of the year for 2025, I have slowly welcomed my new friend into my life. Like any good writer, how do you get to know a word better?  Definition and word origin! What does courage mean?  Here are several definitions: Wow – huge, mighty, and grand words, aren’t they? I like this simpler one: Courage is the ability to do something difficult even when there's risk. Courageous people do and say what they think is right despite opposition. What about the origin of the word courage? The word courage comes from the Latin word cor, which means "heart." Brene Brown writes, “In one of its earliest forms, the word courage had a very different definition than it does today. Courage originally meant "To speak one's mind by telling all one's heart. Over time, this definition has changed, and today, courage is more synonymous with being heroic. Heroics is important and we certainly … [Read more...]

Four Somethings – Winter Edition

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I love to occasionally share my Four Somethings – things I have read, seen, experienced that made me stop and savor life. One practice I frequently promote is reflection – pausing and pondering where you are, where you have come from and where is God inviting you into next.  I share bits of wisdom in four categories. Gathering Four Somethings makes me aware of all the blessings often hidden under busyness, worries, and distractions. These “somethings” become markers in our spiritual journey. With so much pivoting and uncertainty in our lives right now, being grounded in a simple practice like this guides my way.  Something Wise “The real enemies of our life are the “oughts” and the “ifs.” They pull us backward into the unalterable past and forward into the unpredictable future. But real life takes place in the here and the now. God is a God of the present. God is always in the moment, be that moment hard or easy, joyful or painful. When Jesus spoke about God, he … [Read more...]

Blessings

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Blessings come in many forms. We use this form of prayer in a variety of ways. I had a friend bless me the other day. She prayerfully raised her hand. Said my name. Acknowledged gifts God had given me. Thanked me for giving them to her and to others. Then reminded me who I was – a beloved child of God. A moment of peace, holy ground between us and love.  God’s presence was very strong in that room and in our hearts. Blessings – we may use this word all the time.  What is a Blessing? A blessing is a special prayer given from one person to another, as in sincerely wishing the best for somebody.  Another way of defining blessing is an unexpected, perhaps undeserved gift.  Or to give someone your blessing is to give them your permission, an approval to go ahead with their plan, such as when a young man asks his girlfriend’s parents if he can marry their daughter. Blessing can be the words we say before a meal to express our thanks for the food … [Read more...]

Word of the Year

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Each year I choose a word of the year that walks with me, guides me, forms me, teaches me lessons along the way. This is a spiritual practice I have enjoyed for more than 10 years and find it deepens my self-knowledge, adds clarity and meaning, and helps me grow closer to God. Some years the word is fun; some years it is challenging. Some years I find a word easily; others I have to dig, wait, search for just the right one. But occasionally the word finds me. That happened this year. I usually begin in late fall listening and looking for what words sound interesting or keep reappearing. I start a list and keep it handy on my desk and jot down possibilities. Later I write them in my journal and begin to prayerfully consider each one, seeing if one bubbles more to the top. I may circle a few that draw my attention. I may write down a couple of new ones. One morning mid-December I quietly sat with my journal open staring at the words: hope, now, behold, walk, near…all circled. … [Read more...]

Anchor

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Being on the cruise ship for 30 days gave me lots of boat and ocean metaphors to dance in my heart. One of the strongest images was ANCHOR. Three times the cruise ship didn’t dock in the port but anchored off shore and we “tendered” on smaller boats to the islands.  “Tender” is another interesting word as they use the ship’s lifeboats to transport us back and forth from the boat to the shore and it is NOT often very tender to board these smaller ships from the larger ship with all the rocking and rolling of the waves up and down.  Yes, they had several large crew members standing on both sides of us, steadying us as we entering the smaller tenders to head to shore. But it was sort of scary to take that step from one side to another on such uneven, precarious shaking surface!  What an adventure. Like an amusement park ride thrill! As we enjoyed our time on the islands the large cruise ship waited, anchored in the port. ANCHORED but not still. The waves slowly moved … [Read more...]

Travel Treasures

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Traveling offers treasures that enrich our lives and stays with us even after the trip is over. I have often said vacations come in three parts: the first third of the fun is the planning, imagining, creating all the arrangements. I love that preparing and dreaming about an upcoming vacation. Afterall I am a planner! The second part is of course, going on the vacation: enjoying the present and discovering surprises and the unexpected. Being in the moment. Savoring the time. But often the best part is the grand finale: the final third: coming home: ahhh, the comfort of home, and then the enjoyment of the memories that no one can take away. That someday you will look back and say I am sure glad we took that trip. No regrets! Where did we go this time and what treasures can I share? Here are a few tidbits: The Trip My hubby and I took quite the adventure this time: a 32-day Viking cruise from LA around Hawaii and French Polynesia and back to LA. Yes 32 days. Yes, lots of … [Read more...]

A Traveler’s Thanks

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Gracious Lord,Thank you for the joy of traveling. For the honor of seeing your creation. The joy of being alive in your world. Of experiencing the ocean breezes and the mist on my face. Standing on the deck losing count of all the variation of shades of blues in the waters before us. The loving companionship of my hubby. The deliciousness of the food, both familiar and unfamiliar. Meeting friends from around the world.   Breathing in new cultures and learning histories that impact us all. Deepening understanding of varying ways of living. Watching wildlife leap for joy in the air and sea. Waiting for the clouds to pass at night to catch glimpses of the Southern Cross and Orion in your great universe across the heavens. So often, Lord, I felt blessed and thanked you for this time away to see your vast creation. The wonder of your amazing world. And now grateful for returning home and the comfort of routine, family, and beauty even in my … [Read more...]