How we lack imagination….. faith is required to imagine what is wonderful beyond our sensory grasp. Our self-focus, encouraged by our pain, keeps us inside of our little dwelling. Stepping outside of ourselves is a gift – from God himself. Outside are the limitless vistas that expand our humanness and give us eternal hope. These are the places we rarely go – since we fear being overwhelmed and losing control. Pray to be overwhelmed! Pray to understand that you…
At Morning and at evening it shines just as bright It changes the room where it scatters its light When troubles unkind make the day longer still And the heart is unswept of its worries and cares It appears unannounced with its soft Summer warmth And commands into bloom what is lovely and fair There are gifts that are given each day of the year Many given for need, many given for love But the gift that I cherish every…
Have you ever wiped away someone’s tears? Have you? You don’t wipe away the tears of someone you don’t care for – very deeply. Thinking back to my childhood, if my tears were ever wiped away, it would have been by my tender-hearted mother. It wasn’t many years before growing up (or embarrassment) moved me away from desiring such comforts. Tears are messengers of our brokenness and pain. Tears are the physical expression of the emotional distress that lives below…
Yesterday I stood at the edge of the Atlantic Ocean during a stormy sunrise. The beach on the Outer Banks of North Carolina stretched out of sight in both directions. The deep blue clouds, lighted from above were a thing of rare beauty. The strong, gusty winds pushed me around like one of the few brave seagulls. But what overwhelmed me most was the inescapable salty aroma that heralded the transition from continent to ocean, the edge of two…
I found myself intrigued and curious as I read in the book of Zechariah the account of his vision that included the appearance of horns and craftsmen. The horns seem easier to interpret as powers or personalities that goad others. No one wants to be on the receiving end of the “horns”. For me (and probably Zechariah), the strange appearance of craftsmen to oppose these horns was the novelty. Why not a warrior, a king or a prophet? Perhaps there…
Early this morning, I had a high definition dream that seemed longer and more real than most. I was being driven through a landscape of decaying and ruined buildings that I recognized as parts of buildings I had leased or worked in during my lifetime. The scene resembled the aftermath of a devastating tornado or a bombed-out industrial site. Of course, each recollection of past failures had, attached to it, regret and pain. It didn’t take long to realize…
How does life move forward when humanity cannotWhen losses mount and intentions fail – over and over and overLove falters, desire lacks substance,One step forward, 2 steps back Generations fade, each blaming another Each uniquely incapable at turning the tideGlittering flourishes lacking substance to build what is meaningful ,To build what is not torn down by the next We stumble through rubbleInjured and injuringLost and losingBearing God’s image, blooming amid our ruins Our Renaissance followed…
3:45am. There is a predictable voice that reviews my failures from yesterday and the possibilities for failure in the future. It is not an assuring, loving voice. It is a voice that makes me want to sink into the foreboding feeling that “this is not going to end well”. It is an “invitation”. An invitation to parlay with an enemy. “Isn’t it reasonable to talk about what could go wrong with your life?” “Shouldn’t you be concerned?” No amount of…
There is economy in uniformity. Manufacturers strive for it. Customers demand it. When we buy light bulbs for our home, we expect two bulbs of similar type to have the same intensity and color temperature. How displeasing would it be to buy 3 cans of the same paint for your living room – only to find out the color varies between them? Our expectation is that multiple items with the same name and specification will be uniform – within certain tolerances. …
My 2nd attempt in as many years to ascend Turtle Head Peak in Red Rock Canyon was truly rewarding. I spent considerably more time on the actual trail than I did in my last attempt. I prayed as I climbed, looking hard for the signs that I was still on the main trail. It was not easy. Sometimes a paint daub on a rock gave me assurance. Other times all I could do was my best to read the hints…