Life – a cup at a time
Expectations are tricky devils. We all have them. Sometimes they are called goals, or rules, or values, or job descriptions, but anytime they can fit into the sentence “I expect you to_____,” they are expectations. They can bring security and happiness or heartache and depression. Expectations helps us work together as a community. When we …
The American Dream is dead. That’s what we’re hearing, from blue-collar workers to university professors to immigration lawyers. Is it really? Certainly, it’s become harder to immigrate to this country. And it’s also become harder to achieve home-ownership, living debt free and retiring comfortably. And the news constantly bombards us with pictures of angry, disenfranchised …
The Fourth Estate, that is, the Press (nowadays the Media) is sinking in the quagmire of identity crisis. Our founding fathers thought it so important to have an independent press that wasn’t controlled by the government, that they protected it in the Constitution. Yet here we are with “Fake News”, opinions presented as facts and …
When it rains in the desert, it tends to come down hard and fast, and doesn’t soak in as much as it runs to lower ground. We had a quick and hard shower at work today, but it evaporated pretty quickly. Just about as dry two hours after as it was before. (About 20 miles …
Like drizzly gray skies are to the Pacific Northwest, so are dusty skies to West Texas. No, it doesn’t rain all the time in Seattle, nor is it always dusty in Odessa-Midland. But both have earned their monikers for a reason. As if we don’t have enough of our own, the Sahara has contributed a …
Everybody has their faults, and I’m no exception. I wrote earlier about my husband’s stubbornness, but in our marriage, he often has the patience of Job. It’s required to put up with me! I’m known for forgetting things. Typically, it’s where I left my keys or my glasses. Yes, they have their designated places, but …
Marriage is full of give and takes. It’s a fine art to know when to stand your ground and when to yield. Mostly, that means trial and error. For example, our living room TV decided to give up the ghost after the last power outage. It was on while I drank my coffee on a …
‘Tis the season for flag waving, and with all the discussion in the news about patriots and “un-patriots” (I prefer non-patriot), this is a good time to reflect on what patriotism is – and what it isn’t. Most agree that someone who has served honorably in the military is a patriot. Those willing to die …
In What is Grace? Part 1, I discussed grace as being a facet or realization of divine, unconditional love. By that definition, grace is not limited to Christianity, but is evident in many traditions around the world. The next question becomes: What is our response? How do we live a life grounded in grace? Grace …
Early morning is my favorite time of day in the desert. You can smell the sagebrush and rabbitbrush, the tiniest hint of moisture, and absorb the quiet and stillness. We live in a house with an established yard and big shade trees, but it’s still in the desert. I love to look out the window …