"Would you rather eat an apple or become a tree?" The Great Apple Dilemma has existed since the Garden of Eden—the lure and lust to place "knowing" above "communing" with one's Maker. Now I'm not a theologian nor is this a commentary on the book of Genesis, but the apple represents something to me—my temptation …
Resisting Perfectionism: The Harsh Taskmaster of our Souls
"Progress not perfection"                                                   -AA Slogan Perfectionism is a harsh taskmaster of our souls. Perfectionism replays those child-like messages filled with shame, "If you don't do what he/she says, you're a failure. You'll never write good enough, blog good enough, teach good enough…" This endless list of lack haunts my mind when I submit …
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The Reminders
Sometimes we need reminders of what is most important in our lives. God gently nudges us towards what is right, true, and redemptive. I, for one, become quite self-indulgent while working on my many projects. This morning, I rummaged through some papers and I came across a reminder.          Rereading this letter brought a precious memory to …
Puddle Jumping
I wish I could go through life jumping from one puddle of destiny to the next.   Unfortunately, real living often includes large sections of hot, black asphalt.    This morning a puddle of destiny came to me; I merely had to turn and step, in order to land smack dab in the middle.  I confess, …
Barbie, Me, and Tenacity
There are times in my life when I do not think I can go on any further. During these dark seasons of doubt, I need voices of insistence to light the way. My best friend, Barbie, is one of the people who coaches me through those long tunnels of insecurity.         In a recent conversation with Barbie, she told me I was tenacious (my paraphrase …
A Puppet and the Alabaster Jar
Today is fresh with possibilities. I want to learn more about the craft of writing so I can paint beautiful words upon the canvas of life. Yet more than this, I want to be become real because I know what God can do with real. He can take our humanity and mix in His Spirit and create healing oil. …
…those plastic smiles
"Her two worlds collided and there she was, enjoying them both." Last night in a dream, I saw my arm as if an outstretched branch of a tree with leaves. The color started going out of the picture moving from right to left leaving the right side a black and white image. I awoke and …
The Searching
"One can never consent to creep when one feels the impulse to soar."                                                                                                          -Helen Keller I have noticed a distinct pattern in my life over the years. Whenever a change of direction or expansion of opportunity is in the wind, restlessness descends. If I had actual wings of flight like a giant eagle, I …
When something beautiful my way comes…
Two gardenia plants snuggle up against my home outside the window facing the patio. I can see them from where I write. Recently, the tips of their leaves turned a sickly brown and large areas of stem lost their foliage altogether. "What's wrong with these plants?" My husband muttered. "I don't know. Maybe they're getting …
JoDee Luna Art 