Notes from Vanaprastha:
Reflections on Faith, Nature, and Writing
Witness Christmas In the Bleak Midwinter
Ice-covered cranberries on the viburnum bush bear witness to the coming winter. Both freezing rain and the majesty of God’s creation. As Christians, we are called to give testimony to this, our faith, to witness. Witness from the LCMS: Witness is the work we...
If prayer is simple, why do I feel helpless?
“Although I’ve been praying and querying, the simple truth is my manuscript might not get picked up for publication,” I said to a former Memoir-in-a-Year classmate. We were attending our colleague’s book launch party, which I wrote about last week. I shrugged. “So,...
Instant and Not So Instant Change, Journey, Moment
An instant happening, coming immediately, a precise moment, a very short space of time. Instant Coffee Change I had hoped this moment would never come but couldn’t avoid the reality. Coffee, including decaf, sent my urinary system into immediate distress. Tea...
Waiting for marshmallows, rewards, and Christmas
'Tis the season of waiting. Waiting for marshmallows “This situation is like the marshmallow experiment,” I said to my brother-in-law. He’d asked if I wanted something to eat or drink—there were some yummy-looking hors d’oeuvres set out. But Thanksgiving dinner was...
To laugh while preparing for the seasons ahead
I had to laugh. Cato puppy had followed me up the trail behind our house and was looking around to see or hear why I had stopped. He loves to race through the woods on the mountain where we live in the Blue Ridge. But it wasn’t Cato who had caused me to explode...
Extreme: exceed norms, high degrees, great lengths
Extreme Weather Friday, we woke to the following extreme weather warning: “The National Weather Service has issued tornado watch in effect until 3 PM EST this afternoon for the following areas”—6 counties in central Virginia, including ours. Tornadoes exceed...