I read The Diary of Anne Frank in middle school. I thought Anne was so brave, even as I wrestled with comprehending that she was only one of the children killed during the Jewish Holocaust. What kind of madness destroys the lives of over one million innocent children? Anne Frank penned those words about not waiting to improve the world as …
In Others’ Words: Choosing Mercy
My friend Dee is visiting for a few, too-short hours, thanks to an extended layover. Conversation flowed as I drove south from Denver International Airport (DIA) back home … and so it will continue except for the hours we sleep. One of Dee’s statements reverberates in my heart even now, a couple of hours later: God is so merciful. The …
In Others’ Words: Beyond Happiness
There were years I waited and watched for happiness. Hoped for happiness. And then … well, I wanted more. Happiness doesn’t stick around very long. It’s a minute by minute occurrence. Circumstantial. And I can’t control my circumstances. But oh, I’ve discovered I’ve changed through years of great happiness and great unhappiness — both fleeting. And I’ve discovered I can …
In Others’ Words: How Many Kings
I love Christmas music! During the month of December, I’m sharing some of my favorite Christmas songs with you. How Many Kings by Downhere became a favorite of mine last in 2012 — and I played it all during 2013. httpv://youtu.be/x7duk4ORRuY In Your Words: What Christmas songs bring the hope of Christmas closer to your heart? Christmas Music: How Many …
In Others’ Words: In Everything …
Two words stand out to me in Psalm 9:1 — the word whole and the word recount. As I thought through Psalm 9:1, I wondered: Do I ever give half-hearted thanks to God? Or do I ever forget to thank him altogether? And then there’s that idea of recounting … when I took a closer look at what the Hebrew …
In Others’ Words: Talent
There’s something to be said for talent. I do believe talent counts for something — a lot of things. Talent is the first thing that opens doors for us — the first thing that catches someone’s eye. You join a choir or an art class or write a short story for middle school English class … and someone — a …
In Others’ Words: Choice
Was anyone else surprised that Groucho Marx said something this insightful? No disrespect meant towards Groucho — but I think of him as the wisecracking guy with the ginormous eyebrows and the cigar. I admire Groucho’s focus on each new day as it came — his realization that he couldn’t change yesterday or control tomorrow. And I like that he …
In Others’ Words: Cure
We’ve all heard how an apple a day keeps the doctor away. I’m not sure that’s true, but I do think there’s some truth to the healing power of laughter and sleep. It’s been said that a cheery heart is good medicine (Proverbs 17:22) — and I have to believe laughter’s included there. And more and more studies reveal the …
In Others’ Words: Perfect
I want to expound on Thomas Merton’s quote — but really, he’s spoken the truth so eloquently. Love is letting others be. It’s not some twisted you-look-like-me-and-I-look-like-you relationship where there’s no emotional breathing space. And sometimes we don’t understand the truth that love begins when I’m me and you’re you until we’ve spent too many years pretending to be someone we’re …
In Others’ Words: Insight
Creativity takes a certain kind of insight. Insight that sees beyond the blocks of marble — or snow — and recognizes the angels or warriors waiting to be revealed. Insight that looks beyond the blank pages and imagines the stories waiting to be told … with words that become sentences … that become paragraphs … that become chapters … that …