Writer, Speaker, Editor, Blogger
On our trip to Israel, we saw lots of walls—torn down walls, damaged walls, still-intact walls, rebuilt walls, walls to keep in, walls to keep out, and sacred walls. As I scan through all my pictures, and see various walls, I think about the walls we erect in our lives. Following are some thoughts: Protective […]
Do you struggle to find peace? Are there days when you wish you could grab just a tiny piece of peace to cultivate calmness and relieve stress? We live in a society that promotes contentiousness rather than peace, so grasping and holding onto peace are challenging. Following are some suggestions to promote personal peace: Squelch […]
Last week, I finally had foot surgery after putting it off for years. Now that I’m on the other side of the surgery, I’m thankful it’s over and wish I’d done it sooner. Following are thoughts on why we delay and the benefits of having a hard thing behind us: Causes for delay: Fear of […]
For most of us, March marks the return of spring, and with it, new vegetation, multiple shades of green, milder temperatures, and bright blue skies. Yet, March is a month known for its changeability. Sometimes, within just a few hours, spring-like weather morphs into strong, biting winds, severe storms, or a sudden return to frigid […]
In recent weeks, I have become increasingly aware of those in various types of pain. A friend and also a family member who are experiencing physical pain. Extended family members endured the emotional pain of watching the physical pain of a loved one’s final days on earth. Others suffer pain related to aging or chronic […]
Emotions are God-given and part of our humanness. They serve an important purpose by allowing us to express feelings and release tensions. Sometimes, we avoid emotions, suppressing them until we can experience them at a more convenient time. But often that moment never comes and those squelched emotions bubble to the surface unexpectedly and in […]
Last weekend, I taught at a writing conference. The fact that I was teaching doesn’t mean I wasn’t also listening, learning, and gaining valuable inspiration. One message that came through repeatedly, and clearly, was to move forward, to take the information obtained, do the work, and, as one speaker said, “Just get on with it.” […]
As a wordsmith, I enjoy acquiring new words and using them in my writing. Although I was familiar with the word “hinterland,” I recently ran across it again and its usage piqued my interest. The word is German in origin and was first used in the late 1800s. Hinterland is defined as an uncharted area […]
Earlier this week, my husband and I watched the first installment of a PBS drama that focused on the final years of slavery in early nineteenth century colonial Jamaica. As always, the portrayal of the brutality and injustice of slavery was jarring and unsettling. While we do not experience the type of slavery present centuries […]
Recently, I had a conversation with a man who immigrated legally to the United States with his family. When asked why they came to this country, he replied, “Freedom. Religious freedom.” He went on to say that he is extremely concerned about the upcoming election, fearing those with a socialist agenda will come to power. […]