He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
"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 →
When I was five years old, I was given my first Bible. It was a King James version with tiny print and a surplus of thee's and thou's. However, it did have about a dozen illustrations which depicted dramatic biblical scenes. There was Noah's ark tossing precariously on massive waves and Samson straining between two... Continue Reading →
Maurice Sendak, author of Where the Wild Things Are, describes one fan who paid him the ultimate compliment. Don't you just love that sequence? He saw it. He loved it. He ate it. This is actually a biblical concept. Both the Old Testament prophet, Ezekiel, and the disciple, John, were instructed to "eat" a scroll.... Continue Reading →
The year was 1964. My mother sat in the waiting room outside intensive care, a coast away from the rest of the family. She did not know whether her 21 year old son, in critical condition, would survive the head injury sustained in a car accident. Hours stretched into days as an untenable future loomed. ... Continue Reading →
In the Beatitudes, Jesus tells us how to live a happy life. This is not the stuff you will find on the bookshelf of best sellers at O'Hare airport. The Beatitudes challenge the current self-help mega industry offering counter-cultural concepts that may take you by surprise. Blessed are the poor in spirit. Blessed are the... Continue Reading →
Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death... Even though the mountains be carried into the midst of the sea... Even though a host encamp against me... OK, I am not keen on ANY of these circumstances befalling ANY of us. And I am certainly opposed to being thrown into a... Continue Reading →
In our younger years we imagine Big Things. Publishing a book - followed by a book tour. Securing promotions and sizable salaries. Becoming competent in a field with initials after our name. Alleviating poverty, improving literacy, advocating for the downtrodden. Magnificent marriages and perfect parenting -- our children "rising up and calling us blessed" (a... Continue Reading →
Mine is the woulda-coulda-shoulda variety that blares its voice at 4AM, revisiting the previous day. And it's not congratulatory. You should have handled that conversation better. You should have spoken up at that meeting. Remember that Ben & Jerry's you devoured at 10pm? Your arm flab has a life of its own. (Your accommodating narrative provides... Continue Reading →
A few admissions -- I buy Target jeans and shoes - knowing full well I will return them the following week. Why? There is a twinge of pleasure in the purchase. There's even some satisfaction in the refund - as if I have somehow made money. I am a manic jogger not for health benefits... Continue Reading →
Shadows and Shelters 