Flowers In The Desert

My kid called from the Mohave Desert. (And I’m not speaking metaphorically.) Tent up, flapping in the desert breeze. Backpack and bottles strewn about like her bedroom used to be. Her skin freckled & parched from trekking 130 miles in the heat. It’s her third leg hiking the 2,650-mile PCT. A photo chirped my phone…

The Privilege of Scripture: Storytime With Your Savior

Reading Dr Seuss before bed has become our thing. Grandpa is in charge of tickle-tests, 4-wheelers, Oreos and milk. Climbing up, we snuggle under blankets and sheets one, two, three. Eager at what we know is coming: shoulder to shoulder giggling over zany characters, tongue twisters, elephants in trees. Lights burn way past bedtime, laughter…

What God Wants From Us

I’ve little interest in Christmas. I’m excited about Christ. If it were up to me, we wouldn’t have a tree. But I love the man who carries this stuff up. Meticulously picking each piece out. Humming and singing as he goes. Gathering and printing addresses. Stamping and mailing cheer wishes. Though not about presents and…

An Introverts Search For Courage In An Extroverted World

For as long as I can remember fear has been the driving force of my existence. I wasn’t comfortable leaving mom’s side. And even at her side, fear stayed close by. Various quotes crossed my path this past year aimed at abolishing fear. But I’ve never known fear to stop for a smart phrase. The…

The Bitter & Sweet of Grief

First the bitter. I’ve never lost a loved one, before today. Sunken eyes, dragging form cause me to fear this will be the last moments all four of us will be together. Once we cover recent therapies and medical realities, we hear his hoarse voice faintly say, “I’m reading Job. In chapter 5 today.” Glancing…