Years ago, the trademark symbol of one of the television networks was a stylized peacock with vivid multi-colored tail feathers. The words “brought to you in living color,” along with the peacock, preceded programing. Perhaps the trademark originated when television transitioned from black and white to color. Regardless, it was a vivid visual image that […]
5 Life Lessons Learned from My Father
Each year, when the third week in June rolls around, I can’t help but think of my Daddy. Even though he died almost 30 years ago, I still miss him. I miss his strong hugs with a jiggly squeeze at the end. I miss his gentle voice, his humor, and his wisdom. My father was […]
7 Enemies of Peace
In these turbulent days, calmness and peace are hard to find. Demonstrations, marches, violence, fear, and turmoil flood our cities, and mainstream and social media. Coming on the heels of COVID-19 quarantine, one has to wonder if all the emotion stems from fear, frustration, and confinement rather than backlash over injustice. We all experience times […]
Remembrance, Sacrifice, and Freedom
In the mid-1950s, before I was born, my parents went to Europe. My Uncle Wesley was stationed in Germany as part of the post-WWII Allied presence and my parents visited him and Aunt Jean. But my parents also went to Switzerland to see the place where my father was held prisoner after his plane was […]
What We are Learning about Ourselves in Light of COVID-19?
Life presents us with many learning opportunities and COVID-19 is no exception. The uncertainties of the disease, and other unknowns, challenge us in unexpected ways and bring out various emotions. The wide range of actions, reactions, and emotions highlight positives and negatives. Following are some things we are learning about ourselves in the face of […]
The Pitfalls of Isolation
Last weekend, we had the pleasure of gathering our family in our home to celebrate Mother’s Day and our daughter-in-law’s birthday. After months apart, it was a joy to see each other in person, share a meal, and watch little folks play, squeal, run, and laugh. We are social beings, designed by God, our Creator, […]
Clinging Vines and Other Entanglements
As I sat on the deck one morning, I looked across the yard to a spot where I thought we had planted a dogwood tree, but the tree wasn’t visible. Thinking perhaps the tree was a victim of the recent tornado, I walked to the edge of the yard. Upon further inspection, I saw that […]
How to Take a Licking and Keep on Ticking
Years ago, a popular watch brand introduced a series of television commercials designed to show the durability, shock-resistance, waterproofing, and dependability of their products. The commercials put wristwatches through various scenarios designed to test them, including: strapping them to a baseball bat that was used to hit a fast ball, taping a watch to a […]
Waiting for Calm After the Storm
Although, in many ways, it feels as if COVID-19 pushed the pause button on our world, other life challenges are happening. People are still dealing with other types of illnesses and are hospitalized or in need of surgery. Some are grieving deaths unrelated to COVID-19, and others are recovering from weather events that happened earlier […]
7 Keys to Staying Focused When Distractions Abound
Distractions are always a deterrent to forward motion. Now, more than ever, distractions related to COVID-19 limit our attention span and make it difficult to focus long enough to complete work. Things we don’t normally think about, like making sure to stay six feet away from people in public places, finding adequate food and supplies, […]