Growing up, I never quite conquered the monkey bars. Seriously, I’m pretty certain I never once made it all the way across from one end to the other. Sometimes I’d get to the middle and just hang there until I let go and dropped. But there’s the lesson hidden in monkey bars: Life is all about letting go. I’ve grieved …
In Others’ Words: When You Can’t
There are days I wake up thinking about all the things I have to do — and how I probably won’t get them done. Of course, those are the days where I fell asleep the night before thinking about all the things I had to do when I woke up in the morning … and all the things I left …
In Others’ Words: Dreams
I know what you’re thinking: This is not the first time I’ve posted about dreams. You’re right. And it won’t be the last. Dreams add an almost magical depth and breadth to life. And when your dream is prayed over and blessed by God, it is eternally expanded. Add the necessary perseverance and you may one day embrace a dream …
In Others’ Words: Strength
I used to hate change. I was all about things staying the same. Me. The people around me. Life in general — and in specific. I’d grit my teeth, close my eyes, dig my heels in … pick your clichéd reaction to change and I did it. Things staying the same seemed safe. I felt safe. I felt strong. It took longer …
In Others’ Words: Friends
It’s the end of a long week. A busy week. A good week. And I’m tired. I wonder how you’re feeling on the other end of the blog-o-sphere. How do you feel, as you look back over your shoulder at Monday-Tuesday-Wednesday-Thursday . . . yep, it’s Friday again. I found myself thinking I had nothing to say, nothing to blog …
In Others’ Words: Honesty
Honesty is one of my key values. That hasn’t always been true. In the past, I was all about being less-than-honest with myself. Ignoring the truth. Sometimes I shoved the brutal truth in a closet, slammed the door shut, turned my back on the banging and kicking and screaming — Hey! Open this door! — and walked away. The essence …
In Others’ Words: Stand Up
I took a fall this week. Actually, I face-planted on my blue yoga mat attempting the Crow position. The instructor comforted me by saying she’d done the same thing, calling it “Pecking Crow.” My rendition of the move was more like “Crashing Crow.” And the black and blue bruising on my face attests to the fact that my nose is …
In Others’ Words: When God Shows Up
How has God showed up for you? Last night Jerri Marr spoke at the church my family attends. Who is Jerri Marr, you ask? She’s a 26-year veteran of the U.S. Forest Service and more importantly to thousands of people in Colorado Springs this past summer, Jerri was the voice of calm and hope during the Waldo Canyon Fire. She talked briefly …
In Others’ Word: Being You
I’m not a woodworker — too afraid of a table saw for that kind of endeavor. Even so, I know that wood has a grain to it. Go against a piece of wood’s natural grain and guess what happens … The wood tears. There have been seasons in my life when I lived against the grain. Circumstances pressured me to act a …
In Others’ Words: Begin
Happy 2013, friends! I’ve missed our conversations. We’re two days into the new year. I have plans for today … and for this year. Based on your Facebook statuses, your emails, your Instant Messages, y’all have plans too. I’m wise enough to know my plans will be interrupted. Let’s see if I’m also wise enough to embrace the interruptions, adapt …