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Don’t criticize, and then you won’t be criticized—or judged.

Don’t criticize, and then you won’t be criticized—or judged.

by Carole Duff | Jun 8, 2026 | Faith, Writing and Reading | 4 comments

The word criticize appears in Biblical passages dealing with judgment, slander, and interpersonal relationships. We humans are big on criticizing others, and I am no exception. Here’s an example. Keith and I were settling into an evening of movie-watching...
Almost heaven and very nearly but not quite there yet

Almost heaven and very nearly but not quite there yet

by Carole Duff | Apr 29, 2024 | Faith, Nature, Writing and Reading | 6 comments

On Friday morning, as I stepped outside with Mac dog into the “almost” at Vanaprastha—almost another day—I heard two barred owls’ spectacular, loud, emphatic calls in the dark before dawn. Ok-ok-ok-ok ok-ok-buhooh, variations of the mnemonic “who cooks for you.” The...
From shouts of Hosanna to shouts of blame—why the shift?

From shouts of Hosanna to shouts of blame—why the shift?

by Carole Duff | Mar 25, 2024 | Faith, Writing and Reading | 0 comments

They heaped blame upon His head. “Crucify him,” the crowd screamed. And so, He became the scapegoat; Jesus took the blame for us. But just days before the crowd outside Jerusalem had spread cloaks and branches on the road and shouted, “Hosanna!” Why the sudden shift?...
If prayer is simple, why do I feel helpless?

If prayer is simple, why do I feel helpless?

by Carole Duff | Dec 12, 2022 | Faith, Writing and Reading | 18 comments

“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,...
Anger and a Gentle Answer

Anger and a Gentle Answer

by Carole Duff | Mar 1, 2021 | Dogs & Other Creatures, Faith, Family, Nature, Writing and Reading | 2 comments

It snowed late Friday afternoon and through the night. I took this photograph while Keith let the dogs out for their “hurry up’s” before bedtime. God willing, last Friday’s storm will be the end of this year’s winter weather here at Vanaprastha.  The temperature...
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