A scene from Wisdom Builds Her House, releasing August 20, 2024
This was the scene on Saturday evening when I was a panelist on Zoom in Hippocampus magazine’s Night of Nonfiction and read from Wisdom Builds Her House. “What you need to know,” I said after Hippocampus Magazine and Books founder Donna Talarico introduced me. “In...
Tolerate with humility, gentleness, patience, love, perseverance
Though I wasn't going to tolerate my step back from last weekend, I wasn’t entirely sure how to turn it into two steps forward. Until I read Paul’s letter to the Ephesians 4:1-3 (NASV 1995) Therefore I, the prisoner of the Lord, implore you to walk in a manner...
We can rewind but cannot change until we learn the lessons.
Part of me wished I could rewind and take back what I said to Keith on Friday night after happy hour. “I’m done with your criticism,” I said screamed and side-ways sliced the air with my hand. I’d mismanaged the dogs again, and they’d taken off running. Before...
Make joyful noises with music, food, and merriment
Waking to lightning, thunder, and rain, I prayed, “Make more joyful noise, Lord,” knowing full well the psalmists were not exhorting God but His people, like me, to serve with gratitude. Make Joyful Music Make a joyful noise to the Lord, all the earth. Psalm 100:1...
The capacity we have comes not from us but from God
As Marta spoke to the congregation at the end of the service yesterday morning, I marveled at her capacity to share her painful story. She’d run away from a terrible home situation at age 13 and was on her own for weeks before being taken to a police station....
On Being Specific: in our plans, details, and prayers
“What specific species is that?” our neighbor asked about a tree with a branch of leaves turning reddish yellow. We were eating a 4th of July Eve dinner—grilled brats, Keith's baked beans, potato salad, slaw, and garden cucumbers—on the dining deck. “I’m not sure,”...