It could be the hardly-seen neighbor across the street. Or the silver-haired lady in the pew in front of you. Or the friend who seems a bit more withdrawn. Or maybe… It’s You. Someone who is missing…someone. The holidays bring laughter, joy, and spirit-filled carols. And… They bring reminders that there is an empty chair. Someone is missing that should be with you. Maybe it’s your Dad... whose laughter always filled the room and he’s now singing with the angels. Or the grandchild who is trying to find her way… and Continue Reading
The Uncomfortable Girdle…and Bible Verse
I hadn’t been that uncomfortable since… Well… Since the girdle days. You know. The pre-Spanx suck-it-in and pull-it-tight girdle. Made from rubber ripped off the tires of the Ford LTD. Like a tourniquet around your waist and thighs. Thick, tight, hard to breathe…and extremely uncomfortable. Once you got it on you needed another shower and a nap. …Panting and sweating and worn out. Remember? Nothing comfortable about that body wear. I felt that same discomfort a few mornings ago as I read David’s note in Psalm Continue Reading
A Trip From My Happy Place
It’s been a road trip that just kind of happened. You know, one of those trips where you start driving, not knowing where you’re going, but the road is easy so you just keep moving. You travel on auto pilot. I’ve started a trip to My Whining Place. And the scenery's not pretty. Not a place that I send postcards from. Good grief. I’ve got to turn this travelin’ jalopy around. The trip started so innocently… Unexpected detours, closed rest stops, and really big potholes… A few grumbles, discouragements, Continue Reading
Name…Name…Name
Oh, the name. If I could only, always, remember the name. I don’t. Way too often I’ll run into someone and panic sets in. The face…I know her…how do I know her…name…name…name… I start flipping through the rolodex that sits in the gray mass covered by my not-natural blonde hair. What's her name? Which file drawer to open? Church? Speaking event? Client? Friend? Sister? (Ha! Just kidding.) Name…name…name… (If you are too young to know what a rolodex is… It’s like each person’s contact information on your iPhone Continue Reading
Don’t Snag Your Shirt
My friend, Mary Lou, and I were discussing how bothersome those pin-on name tags can be. One little snag from pin holes on fragile fabric and the material can unravel quite quickly. Note: Two hours of trying on the closet to find the perfect outfit, another 30 minutes to pick out the perfect top, and another hour to make sure it is wrinkle-free and all the buttons work…And one little “Hello, My Name Is…” name tag pin can ruin the blouse faster than underarm sweat stains. It made me start thinking about other little choices that Continue Reading
Starting Again with the Best Choice
Tasks that are good things to do. Work that is important. Responsibilities that others may depend upon. My days are filled with them. And yet… When my head hits the pillow at night, I’ve been asking myself… Did I do the most important thing today? When I look back over the last couple weeks, my response has to be… Not all the time. My heart asked and answered the question in church on Sunday as we sang my favorite Confession: Forgive me, Lord, forgive me, For my heart has gone its way. I ignored Your Word, Continue Reading
Disappointments Come…Ooftah
Sharing from the heart here… The frustration, the hurt, the resentment… it can seemingly come out of nowhere, can’t it? But it has its source… Someone let me down. Disappointed me. Someone didn’t meet my expectations. Note: Definition of Expectations: Something that I think should have been done…in a certain way…around my timetable. Sometimes it’s big deal kind of stuff… Mostly, it’s stuff that doesn’t really matter. Right? And when those expectations aren’t met… My response is quite clear. Nobody is left wondering how Continue Reading
Playing Piano in the Majors and Minors
Playing piano. After Faith, Family, and Friends… It’s What Matters Most to me. (Yeah, it’s even more important than chocolate.) Tickling the ivories – or sometimes pounding on the ivories (!) – brings voice to my thoughts and emotions. When playing piano, I am transformed to another place…especially when playing in worship. It’s as if God is sitting right with me on the piano bench. My #1 most fun experience playing the piano was back some years ago. I got to tour with Doug and Donna Fagerstrom and a group from Wooddale Continue Reading
Grace When Kicking the Cat
The morning sun is just starting to find its way through the icicles hanging from our roof and I’ve already kicked the cat. And since we don’t have a cat and the only other person who lives here is my husband Steve, you can guess who’s a little sore. Good grief. If you asked me what created this little huff I was in… I’m not sure I’d know. (But! Does the big company who wants us to have a lawn that is truly green (smile) need to call before 8:00 am? I don’t think so.) What I do know is that I had a plan…a Continue Reading
The Whining State
I was in a whining state. Annoyed, frustrated, and ready to RSVP “Yes!” to the pity party invitation. Then I started thinking about how much good was in my life. I didn’t have anything to complain about compared to friends who were dealing with really big-time issues. Everybody has “Yes!” stuff. Then I decided to “get over it” – focus on the gazillion good things in my life. Set aside those irritations and step into a new day. Then I started feeling guilty about the whining. Kicking myself for my blubbering, lack of Continue Reading
Jesus was a Person — With Good Days and Bad Days
Talk about having a really bad day. Someone you had taken long walks with, mentored, ate fish dinners with, went boating with, and considered part of your inner circle is going to betray you. Pain and death are moments away. And you have to say good-bye to your mother and people you love and care about deeply. It’s hard to imagine Jesus in such a human place, isn’t it? We think of his birth, his teachings, his miracles, but we don’t often think of him as a person. Someone who has problems, disappointments, sadness, and pain. (And Continue Reading
My Worries: God’s Response
This morning I woke up wondering, “What was my brain doing during the night?” Perhaps you’ve experienced this… My body hasn’t even realized I’m awake, and my mind and heart are flooded with worries and anxieties: projects that need to be completed, business challenges, deep heartaches of family and friends, Haiti, the homeless, and the list continues. My heart is heavy, there’s tension in my muscles, and I am very overwhelmed. What was my mind doing the last six hours that brings this feeling of hopelessness before I even get out Continue Reading
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