A new year invites both looking forward and looking back. The possibilities of a fresh start are exciting. But without remembering the good and significant things we have passed through, we miss opportunities for understanding and gratitude as we move forward. The ancient Israelites would often use stone memorials or monuments as markers of remembrance. …
Miracles in the Middle, Mercies in the Midst
There is no question that difficult times arise in our lives. Experiences that take us by surprise, that change our plans, that devastate and confound us. Understandably, we fiercely wish for a miraculous removal of the trial or obstacle. But when removal is not immediate, when we don’t get what we desperately want, I have …
The Miraculous Every Day
Have you ever experienced the illusion when once something is brought to your attention, you start seeing it everywhere? Like when you purchase a particular model of car, you start seeing it more frequently on the roads? (This is a real phenomenon! It even has a name-the ‘Baader-Meinhof’ phenomenon.) It isn’t really that the frequency …
Views
Several years ago we had the opportunity to build a home in a beautiful location, on a forested lot with the potential for grand views of the mountain range to the west. We very carefully measured, walked, planned and adjusted the orientation and design of the house to capture those views from the windows of …
Lessons from Life with Covid
We are now almost 7 months into the worldwide pandemic caused by the Covid virus. We have passed the stage of expecting a quick outcome and have become more settled into life with mask wearing in public, learning and teaching over technology instead of in person in school and missions, restrictions on activities and travel, …