It’s time to celebrate All Saints Day again. I find it amusing that we set aside a day to remember those who have gone before us in faith, as though we will forget them if we don’t. But nobody seems to remember that particular day (except for a few) because we’re all more focused on […]
hope
Wind in My Hand
Ahhhhhh, the beach… It’s a place of pleasant reflection and somber consideration, especially in the “off-season.” We head for the beaches of the North and South Carolina coasts most falls. There are fewer people there, the prices are a little more reasonable, and the weather is often just right – great for walking or sitting, […]
Made to Last
It was a plaque on one of the iron girders supporting a railroad trestle bridge. It named the builder of the bridge and the date it was built. There was the date it was completed, clearly and proudly displayed, reading “1893.” The bridge is still carrying freight traffic, so it was obviously well-built – made […]
Something to Die For
Last week, I toured a couple of Civil War battlefield sites. They were clean, green, and beautiful, much different than they were the days that made them famous. Antietam was a particularly sobering place to tour. Our guide walked us to several places where ferocious combats were fought, places where thousands of men died. To […]
Catching the Updrafts
The birds that inhabit the Grand Canyon are an interesting bunch. I’m not talking about the visitors – they’re an interesting bunch, too – but I refer to the winged denizens of the Great Chasm. Most common and notable are the ravens. These big, black-feathered fliers love to snatch anything that falls to the ground, […]
Horrific
There are no words to express how terrible was the news of the Texas school shootings. On top of a series of other unbelievably evil events, it was beyond comprehension. I had several things I wanted to share this week, but I just can’t get beyond the events of the last several days. While politicians […]
Emptiness
Recently, I tried to take a sip of water and realized my water bottle was empty. Empty is usually not good. It may not be terrible, but emptiness can be a unhappy thing in many respects. From the inconvenient emptiness of running out of something, to the emotional emptiness of being left all alone, to […]
Jesus Cares!
(Read John 16) Jesus’ life has come down to this. In the final moments he spends with his disciples before his torturous trial, mockery, and death, he seeks to comfort his disciples because he knows what’s coming. He knows the sorrow His disciples will encounter, and He knows how precious the gift – the Holy […]
Never Alone
(Read John 14) My mother died several years ago. Since then, I have had countless times when I wish I could share something with her – some good news, significant accomplishment, fun moment, or beautiful sight. Each time, I am touched with a unique kind of loneliness. I miss her! Death is a terrible, unnatural, […]
Looking Forward Because We Can
As we approach 2022, there are many things for us to look forward to as well as remember. We might look forward to a healthy, prosperous, hope-filled year! We can look forward to good things, like spending more quality time with our family, maybe losing a few of those unwanted pounds, a secure job (especially […]