Photo by Arina Krasnikova on Pexels.com Small and fragile, I desire / Protection from external forces which batter / Winds seen and unseen, all of them felt / Chill seeps in my bones / Blood tinges with ice / Thoughts sludge to a crawl / Hibernation As every bird seeks a nest / I seek [...]
The devil dropped by
The devil was beyond pleased. Isolate mankind, keep them wrapped in layers of shame, and tell them they are alone in their struggles. It was a favorite recipe, copywritten from Yours Truly, the Father of Lies.
The Gifts of Grief
Through time and experience, I’ve learned this: they are not ours to keep. They are butterflies awaiting their final flight. We love them for where they are at, but when the butterfly flies, we cannot contain them.
Guest Post: When You Marry a Bachelor (But You’re Not an Old Maid)
Photo by Rene Asmussen on Pexels.com The honeymoon is over, the newness has worn off, and life has settled into a comfortable routine. Google photos just showed me that today a year ago, we were sitting in this very living room working on our guest list. Then, we were excitedly engaged, sitting in “his” living room planning for [...]
Freely & Lightly
Carry your peace within you, not your ledgers or weighty burdens of the past.
Emotions are not your enemy
“Can you trust your emotions? What is the purpose of your emotions?” If someone asked you that, how would you reply? As someone who’s dealt with some heavy emotions like grief and fear, I of course have a different perspective that someone with a different life story that hasn’t dealt with loss. As my friend [...]
Jesus with me
Today I sit at my dining room table, watching snow fall and eating spicy Asian chicken and rice. Beside me is a tissue, elderberry syrup, and my faithful dog, watching me with her calm brown eyes. I am home, sick with everyone’s favorite little virus, contemplating, of all the things, the gentle workings of God. [...]
Forgiveness, the Humbling Trail: a parable
Photo by Blue Ox Studio on Pexels.com The backpack bit into my shoulders as I read the trailhead sign. "Freedom Point 3.6 miles. Beware of shifting trail." I glanced around anxiously. I had arrived at this sign after several hours of wandering through a wasteland, with briars catching my ankles and sandy paths that sucked [...]
The Beautiful Mystery, part II
Photo by Trung Nguyen on Pexels.com The glory of marriage is learning to unite weaknesses into strengths, till one is stronger and more whole than before. Luci Shaw compares marriage to a gothic stone arch, with Christ as the capstone, uniting individual leanings into unity. In her analogy, marriage becomes a entrance, rather than a [...]
The Beautiful Mystery, part one
Photo by Flora Westbrook on Pexels.com He entered my life at a time when I was disillusioned with single young men. I had just come back from Bible school out of state, and the young men that I liked didn't seem to notice me. The socially awkward loner, however, did notice me, and I ended [...]
Lessons from a Houseplant
Photo by Valeria Ushakova on Pexels.com As an avid houseplant nurturer, it didn't take me long to realize the similarities between a plant and the one who provided it with its sustenance. I began acquiring houseplants for their living aspect; I wanted more live presence on my shelf than a Willow Tree figurine could give. [...]
So you’ve experienced trauma; what’s next
Since a recent post where I’ve divulged a bit of a childhood accident and the ensuing confusion that resulted, I’ve been thinking of all the unsaid things that could be shared. A writer is hopeful that the readers will be able to fill in the cognitive gaps between what is written and the reader’s level [...]