He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
My friend, Sylvia (pseudonym), was complaining that a co-worker, whom she had hired, was receiving a new title and a raise -- all while Sylvia had spearheaded projects that advanced company revenue. Sylvia was dispirited and determined to look for a new job. The Harvard Business Review describes 3 C's that employees desire - Career ... Continue Reading →
My parents attended an Episcopal church steeped in liturgical practices. Most male attendees were scratch golfers who wore pink ties even in the dead of winter. The women wore Lilly Pulitzer shifts with cable knit sweaters draped over their shoulders. Priests came and went - faster it seemed if they couldn't hold their own on... Continue Reading →
The evidence was clear. The theft had been videotaped for goodness sake. Granted, the image was blurred; the lighting at the Jewel store at 2AM had been minimal. But there he was, our defendant, a 20-something, African-American man reaching toward the cell phone display. Caught red handed, argued the prosecution. I surveyed the faces of... Continue Reading →
At 5:30 AM my mother's heels were on the move. Incessant and impatient - as if there was little time to accomplish her tasks. I'd bury my head in the pillow and try for another hour of sleep. What on earth is she doing? It certainly wasn't cleaning. Cooking? Maybe, since she likely had guests... Continue Reading →
I was sitting through a mandatory meeting about changes in the math curriculum. I kept my eyes on the speaker enough to feign interest. Mostly I stared at my phone's unresponsive face resting on my lap, mute and slightly mocking. When the speaker broke us into small groups, I offered the most minimum of input.... Continue Reading →
My palms were sweaty. I stumbled on words, restarting sentences. I paced the basement floor. Codie, our affable golden retriever, glanced up from her morning nap, clearly annoyed. If this is how nervous I am within the four walls of my house, how on earth am I going to pull off a speech in the... Continue Reading →
I love asking people of faith about their practices. Cathy says she is reading through the whole Bible with the Moody Bible Commentary by her side. She also reads a daily devotional called Jesus Calling. Susie writes verses on index cards and places them on her car's dashboard and the bathroom mirror. She is memorizing... Continue Reading →
You are precious in my eyes. And honored. And I love you. Isaiah 43:4a When I first read this verse I did a double take. How is it I never heard it before? Surely this was a loose paraphrase of the ancient text. And surely God was referring to the nation of Israel, 700... Continue Reading →
It takes courage to be vulnerable, to look shame directly in the eye without so much as a blink. After all, who really wants to take emotional risks — even with ourselves, much less a judgmental, unsafe world? Yet this is just what researcher Brene Brown advocates in her viral Ted Talks and best-selling books.... Continue Reading →
Ten round kindergarten faces stare at my mother, eyes saucer-big. She's waving her hands in the air lamenting with the bride's father that the wine has run out. Then she's Mary pleading to her son for a miracle - Jesus reluctant at first, but finally producing the best wine Cana can offer. Mom deftly drops... Continue Reading →
In the words of many a Bachelorette or Bachelor, I am "in my head" WAY too much. If seven positive comments are voiced - sandwiching in a single halfway negative comment - guess where my brain will go? The Bible says, "As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he." Proverbs 23:7. Well I... Continue Reading →
I was sneaking into the kitchen for a nighttime bowl of Cheerios when I noticed the door to my parents' bedroom was slightly ajar. That's when I caught sight of the two of them, my stately mother and proud father, their backs to me, kneeling by the bed - their faces prone on the daisy... Continue Reading →
For my 11th birthday my parents got me a suitcase. It was probably designer labeled. All I remember is it was large and red and foretold of trips to come. The following summer my suitcase and I spent 8 weeks at a summer camp in Maine. That first night the chirpy counselors gave us postcards... Continue Reading →
My niece is sending the following verses to her son as he embarks on his Ranger training in rural Georgia. We may not be facing Ranger-like tests, but when we grow faint-hearted, weary, tired, may these promises bring us hope and encouragement. "Do you not know? Have you not heard that the Lord, the everlasting... Continue Reading →
"I think I ruined my friend's retirement plan," the speaker joked. "My friend had been aggressively planning for the day when he could quit his job and do nothing but play golf. Now, I love golf. But how much golf can you actually play? I decided to challenge his plan. So, when you get to Heaven,... Continue Reading →
Shadows and Shelters 