Life – a cup at a time
The real answer may not be your first response. My mind keeps returning to the picture from January 6 of the man who used the U.S. Flag that he was carrying to beat a police officer. I’m sure if you asked this man, he would describe himself as a patriot. But consider that, as a …
One of the dubious joys of an older house is encountering the critters that seek to make it their home as well. All plans for today were put on hold when I discovered a turd on the kitchen floor. Too big for a mouse, I swallowed and started looking for other signs. I Immediately came …
Let me tell you the story of a nine-pound whirlwind named Star. She appeared one day during Missy’s and my regular morning walk. Small, dirty, hairy and super shy, we spotted her under a car. After a couple of weeks, I realized that she was actually staying across the street in Chapo’s yard, when she …
A Lament One moment Breath, the next it’s gone; lungs full but not of air. Bereft of loved ones’ touch They die alone. And God cries. “Use the inside lot,” the suit says. “Guards will keep the riffraff out.” Money insulates the powered from the ones they pledged to …
Living in a Black & White world is easy if you want someone else to tell you what to do, how to act or think. But if you see in color, like I do, it’s not easy at all. I first realized that I viewed things differently as a High School Junior in Debate class. …
Grace isn’t natural. We aren’t born with it, and it isn’t easy to understand. But it is necessary to grow and thrive. Laws we understand. Laws and rules make it possible for large numbers of people to live together and cooperate for the common good. Even at the family level, there are rules — spoken …
We all have a story: who we are, what we’ve done, what we dream. But often we let that story be told by others, instead of telling it ourselves. When I was young, I was: Clumsy A brat Too small to do things Too young to understand Always in trouble Stupid Mean These were all …
Ever find yourself doing something stupid, but pride — or sheer stubbornness — makes you keep going despite your better judgement? Yeah, me, too. Those kinds of mistakes can be deadly. But they can also turn into valuable lessons, and be the source of unexpected Grace. I’ll explain what I mean with the tales of …
I’ve had the good fortune to be the recipient of hospitality from many of people and in a variety of places during my life. Sometimes it was a simple meal obviously stretched with rice, potatoes or noodles to accommodate extra mouths. Other times it meant weeks or months of staying in a home as guest, …
We all face volcanoes in life, whether we realize it or not. The recent eruption of White Island/Whakaari in New Zealand has had me pondering this thought. Maybe it’s because I was there for Mt. St. Helens in 1980. For anyone who was in the Pacific Northwest, they can tell you exactly what they were …