We are constantly bombarded by persuasive messages of self-affirmation. Sentiments like “LIVE YOUR TRUTH” and “YOU ARE GOOD ENOUGH” are commonplace and obvious. They seem benign and positive at first…
Continue ReadingOn Endurance and Letting Go
As a young man, my dad had a large original oil painting hanging in his apartment. It depicts a vase full of cheerful, daisy-like flowers painted in the hallmark colors and character of the early 70s: loud, gaudy and stylized; it’s a fitting tribute to the culture of that era. Years later the painting found a prominent place on our family room wall.
Continue ReadingThat You May Have Certainty
Christianity is more than just “faith” for me, it’s the lens or worldview through which to view life. I do not consider it a “choice” to believe, since it is inextricably linked with reality. I believe that Christianity is the best way to understand the world: it explains tangible and intangible reality including science, nature, human nature, morality, beauty, and Truth.
Continue ReadingGood Father
Dad is all of these things and yet not really – not anymore. He has Alzheimer’s Disease. I write to remember him, though he hasn’t yet departed from this world. I catch his glance and see a light of recognition and love for me in his smile, yet it’s challenging to recognize him there; the dad that I remember and expect is leaving us, steadily.
Continue ReadingLord Most High
This week has been the kind of week where you just want to curl up under the covers and escape from the world. As I write we are experiencing cold, rainy weather, the kind that feels more like March than late October. Autumn has been wonderfully warm and long and the foliage is peaking. But it has to end sooner or later I suppose. As a friend observed, during the course of this week we’ll have experienced the residual effects of Hurricane Zeta, Mischief Night, a blue full moon on Halloween, Daylight Saving Time, and just to add insult to injury, the 2020 presidential election.
Continue ReadingHe Loves Them More
Our son also just moved into his university apartment for freshman year. Yesterday I sang lullabies and tucked him into his crib with his favorite stuffed toy. Today he’s at least a foot taller than me, shaves, drives and helps me with electronics. One day he was small, I blinked, and now he is grown. It happened so fast and is strange, wonderful and bittersweet.It’s so hard to let your kids out into the world when they were once all yours to nurture and protect. Hard not to worry while praying continuously that they’ll adjust and thrive.
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