One might doubt whether more can be said about storms this week, or even how I could mention the topic of joy. Bleary-eyed newscasters continue to report the current path of a seemingly endless hurricane. The stress of the record-breaking wait for Dorian to relent and move away has exhausted…
Today, as yesterday, I needed grace. Lots. Of. It. Not just a trickle of patience and favor, but drenching downpours. My human nature has a default setting of irritability, impatience, and self-centered entitlement. I'm often in need of more nourishment and rest, which cranks up my crankiness factor. In my rough-edged…
Have you ever struggled with transitions and stress? If shifts in life wrack you off balance, you're not alone. Moving from known to unfamiliar challenges us all. Discomfort in times of transition is a normal part of the human experience. We're wired to enjoy our security and feel apprehensive when circumstances…
Got stress? Worry and pressure rage around us at epidemic levels. The American Psychological Association reports, "More than one-third of adults (34 percent) report that their stress increased over the past year. Only 16 percent report decreased stress in the past year. Worse yet, the American Heart Association and Center for…
The Importance of Emotional Health In this series, we've examined the keys to a balanced life. Certain aspects serve as a foundation to establish how well we function in every other part of our lives. Spiritual and physical wellness determine performance, fulfillment, and our effect upon others. Emotional health proves another…
Who has time to make health a priority? Work takes a top spot on the calendar. Some of us clock in ten or twelve hours at our job(s). But other activities edge ahead of health and eat away at our daily hours, too. Most people, even many in the medical…
The first Christmas arrived during a bleak season for God's people. Israel shivered in the shadows of oppression and poverty. Iron-fisted pagans enforced their rule through barbaric crucifixions. Even their fellow countrymen succombed to corruption and betrayal. Prophecies had ceased four hundred years prior, so the growing cries of Israel seemed…
Food, family, and festivities rush us through Thanks-mas into next year's calendar. We fuss and bustle, scurrying from one restless day to another in an attempt to "do" the holidays properly. Or survive them, at least. Expectations and expenses squeeze us until our temples throb from the pressure. The harder we…
Perhaps you know someone who springs from bed with sunshiney brilliance each morning. Filled with natural energy, these people beam with jubilant conversation at the sound of their alarm. Often inclined to sing, they'll bounce into the day like Tigger. I've roomed with these types at conferences, but am not one…
As Floridians, my neighbors and I are piecing normalcy back together after Hurricane Irma. Some of us have electricity. Some lost belongings, income, or even loved ones. A few of us had no visible damage to our homes. We recognize that there are those who faced immense devastation from this and…