In a recent pickleball clinic the coach told us that we if we found ourselves at the kitchen line "banging" with our opponents (meaning, a fast exchange) and losing control of the point, we needed to reset. In all racket sports, this word is important. In tennis, it might mean hitting a defensive lob or... Continue Reading →
BEHOLD!
Here in South Florida many homes have a sliding glass door leading from the interior of the home to a screened-in lanai. The other night, my husband invited me to sit with him in the lanai. Though it was a beautiful evening, I am not the best at being still and quiet. And I could... Continue Reading →
Walking by Faith
My grandson is learning to walk. As he toddles forward, he pauses every few steps to clap for himself. He is also fond of holding a yellow microfiber cloth while walking, as one never knows when the floor might need cleaning. For me, the funniest sight is when he drops the cloth and tries to... Continue Reading →
Loosening my Grip
Given my crippling fear of flying, it is hard to imagine that in my early 30s I actually jumped out of a plane. It was a crisp fall day amid the cornfields of rural Illinois, when my friend, Gina, and I were suited up with a toggle line that would open our parachutes once we... Continue Reading →
Our Inner Emily and How to Live in the Present
My eighth grade English teacher had us read the play, Our Town by Thornton Wilder. Mr. Greco was trying to teach us how to identify the theme, or the author’s message - that which lies beyond the mere retelling of a plot. My thirteen year-old brain, which up to this point had leaned toward Betty... Continue Reading →
The Thing about Grace
Relational conflict and the angst it produces can rob us of peace and devour our time. And for us older folks, there is little time to squander. I love how realistic the Bible is in its admonition to "try to the best of your ability to be at peace with everyone." So, to the extent... Continue Reading →
BIG Surprise!
My 3-year old granddaughter came home from her first day of preschool and announced with great delight, "Mama, BIG Surprise!" She then reached down the neck of her dress and pulled out a family photograph - the same photograph that she had brought to school that morning and was supposed to leave at school, at... Continue Reading →
What you thinketh…
During a long Chicago winter in 1995, I attended a Bible study for young moms. The leader was a woman named Joan (pseudonym), a seasoned follower of Jesus, probably in her 60s, her nest long empty. I recall that her make up was perfect and she wore bright colored, impeccably tailored suits that contrasted the... Continue Reading →
Remaining, Abiding, Staying (In memory of Codie – 2010-2023)
The judge begrudgingly told me, "I am sorry we cannot pass your dog." Codie had failed the culminating test of the dog training class. A true golden retriever, she could not hold her STAY position for the required minutes, the urge to say hello to onlookers (and judges) becoming too much. While her compliant classmates,... Continue Reading →
Serenity
My niece is taking an improv class, and I asked her if there was a culminating performance. She responded, “Oh no, I am not ready yet. With improv, you have to rid yourself of the impulse for self-protection. You have to lose your ego and be able to face embarrassment.” I confess that my ego... Continue Reading →
Yes, YOU!
Are you familiar with the childhood clapping-chant that begins with the query, “Who stole the cookies from the cookie jar?” This is followed by a pointed accusation and a subsequent denial. (“Mama stole the cookies… Who me?… Yes, you!… Couldn’t be!… Then who?”) Moral ambiguity aside, the exchange is a fun way to practice clapping... Continue Reading →
A Word from Wordle?
I was headed to the kitchen of my parent's Florida home, when I noticed their bedroom door was ajar. It was after ten, past their bedtime, which was curious. I peeked through the opening and caught sight of the two of them on their knees side by side, heads bowed. They were in their late... Continue Reading →
On Waiting
I'm holding out a treat out for our six-month old puppy who sits with great expectation. (Did you know there are "high stakes treats"? For Lena, it's a morsel of smoked chicken.) But then comes the challenge. "STAAAAY!!" I back away and stare her down while counting slowly. Our goal is five. But Lena loses... Continue Reading →
Big Love
"Where's the Big Love?" Lena, our new puppy, responds to this prompt with kisses and the occasional love bite. She is gradually learning to restrain her puppy teeth and lick our outstretched hands, in exchange for more petting and loving on our part. (Each day there is more of her to love, as groomer appointments... Continue Reading →
A Celebration of Weakness
When God told Moses that he was the one God had chosen to lead the Israelites out of slavery and into the promised land, how did Moses respond? He basically countered God with everything he had. Who was he to do such a thing? He had spent the last few decades as a lowly shepherd... Continue Reading →
Shadows and Shelters 