A few hundred writers had gathered to pursue their calling on a smoky North Carolina mountaintop. Sunned by worship and swathed in the dewy atmosphere of prayer, an iris raised her amethyst head near the summit stairway.She wore her crown of petals as a hard-won accomplishment. The iris began her journey…
From pandemic health and loss struggles to violence and division, the 2020 year has pummeled us. We face an aftermath of financial struggles, family strain, and despair. Even those who once felt confident may now wonder if we can ever restore our lives. Is there hope for recovery after so…
Father's Day encourages us to celebrate the men who raise children in our world. For those who've lost or never experienced a nurturing dad, the holiday can prove bittersweet or even bitter. Some fathers face this day with grief, as they've lost children to death or estrangement. Those without the…
The second Sunday of June marks National Abused Women and Children Day. On one hand, I'm glad we acknowledge those who've suffered in secret for at least one day. Despite licensure as a therapist and years of experience with victims, I wasn't aware this day existed. Perhaps we all could…
I confess I haven't followed the Game of Thrones or Vikings series. The recent fervor of this final season hasn't swept me in since I've missed too many episodes to care. Regardless of the indifference toward the plot outcome, one aspect of the cult-followed world enraptures me. The optics of…
Spirituality often falls to the bottom of the priority list when it comes to goal setting. With all the urgent issues bleeding at the surface, it's tempting to lump soul care in with personal luxuries. Lapses in diet pop buttons at the mirror. Relationships might literally scream for attention. Professional…
Human nature seeks to understand. Wounds, fear, and deception warp our reach for comprehesion into a desire to presume knowledge based upon preset assumptions. Anxiety prompts us to trade connection for self-protection. Instead of the spiritual nourishment of engaging intimately with other souls, we contribute to division. This pattern spins out…
Independence Day marks the ultimate celebration of Americana. Countrymen rejoice over freedom together with simple pleasures topped with fireworks. Laughter spangles countless backyards and parks, where families and neighbors gather around tables laden with pie, chips, and homemade slaw. Steaming platters of fresh-grilled burgers and dogs fill the air with the…
Blond, pinhead-sized ants stream through paint cracks and drizzle into my cupboards. The flow meanders in and out of visibility, winding up my honey jar and over my open Bible. I brush the trespassers to the chipped tile floor. One creature struggles up onto the Psalms alone. Â Defying my efforts to…
While ancient Egyptians discarded brain matter during mummification, the modern world recognizes the organ's significance. This amazing processing center governs an intricate neural network, manages memory, and determines thought processes as well as behavior. Our quality of life rests largely upon the function of an organ with incredible plasticity. Even…