An Undivided Heart

Today marks another Valentine’s Day where I (and many others) find themselves in some condition of aloneness in this life–even those who are married may ultimately exist in this state of being for any number of reasons. Today also marks the beginning of Lent–Ash Wednesday. I like the idea of taking something up during Lent rather than giving something up. As I prepared for sleep last night, I thought that perhaps during this Lenten season I should daily take up...

Doves, Bacon and Staying the Course

Provocative titles can make the difference between whether someone wants to read a book, news story or blogpost. I was about to call this Doves, Onions and Staying the Course but if you read on, you will understand why bacon also came into my mind. Anything having to do with bacon may capture one’s attention! Not that this expression is particularly worthy of attention (it is my own musings) but hey, if I’m going to write about something in my...

Guest Writing: A Christmas Memory, by Lucy S. Moise

I think I was about seventeen years old. Christmas Eve had finally come. The choir at our church had worked very hard on our Christmas music and I felt like I was ready. When the Midnight Mass Service was over, I felt extra good about myself. I had been in the church choir for several years already, but this time I felt more grown up. I felt like I had contributed my voice to bless others, and felt like I...

Weepers For Souls

“Winners of souls must first be weepers for souls.” – C.H. Spurgeon Pausing during my afternoon to suggest listening to the following talk. There is quite a lot to contemplate in this informational message and spiritual exhortation for anyone with children, grandchildren or who cares about children. (This should well-cover most all humans.) “Trans kids were prescribed more anti-psychotic drugs after beginning transition than before.” – Gary Hamick(This conclusion can be found in a study by the Journal of Sexual Medicine ) “If...

Paparazzi Children

You would have thought that my aunt and uncle were celebrities, and in a sense, they were! As the four of us prepared to travel to Boonsboro, MD in March of 1996, I remember (vaguely) asking my oldest son (then seven years old) why he wanted to take his toy binoculars to this 50th Wedding Anniversary. He gave me some version of, “I’ll be able to see them if they are sitting far away!” So much innocence and all kinds...

Resolutions, Game-Changers and Sirens

Early tonight I went into my guestroom closet to pull out my Christmas decoration bin. It seemed a good time-filler and 5-minute task while I was waiting for my Dill Pickle Bread to fully bake. By pulling the big tub back out, I would be one step closer to taking it back downstairs and perhaps tonight or tomorrow removing all the Christmas ornaments. And then, maybe tomorrow or the next day, to get this pseudo-live Christmas tree dismantled and outside–clipperful...