January can be tough. Especially in comparison to December. December is full of light and giving and gathering. January is barren and cold (where I live) and a bit bleak. I am trying this year, however, to remember. Remember that it is Jesus who is the joy of December–He is the light and the influence …
Given the good news/bad news query, I will go for bad news first every time. I think subconsciously I am hoping the good news will trump the bad. Or at least put the bad into perspective. When the news is good enough, bad news seems more manageable somehow. The bad is still there, and whatever …
Elder Uchtdorf once told a story of a man who took a long saved-for and awaited cruise to fulfill a lifelong dream of seeing the historic cities along the Mediterranean Sea. Because he did not want to spend additional money, he packed food for his trip and embarked on his journey. He looked longingly at …
I heard of a beautiful Mandarin Chinese phrase this week that is usually translated into the English word ‘welcome.’ You might use it when someone comes to your home or when someone enters your store. That does not capture the beauty of its literal meaning, though. ‘Huanying guanglin’ means something like ‘to meet with joy’ …
‘Earth’s crammed with heaven, And every common bush afire with God, But only he who sees, takes off his shoes, The rest sit round it and pluck blackberries, And daub their natural faces unaware.’ (Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Aurora Lee) I have spent the last while traveling and gathering, and this thought from Elizabeth Barrett Browning …
