"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 …
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 …
The Parable of the Talents
"You know," my mother's kindly eyes sparkled as she spoke, "When I was in real estate school, I learned that you need to take down your personal photos when trying to sell your home."     "Really," I hummed while studying her face, waiting for what would come next.     "Yes, that's right. People walk in and get distracted …
Resilience
Resilience Oh willowy beauty Unearthing treasures from the sea A priceless knowing lost in youth Dark waters engulfed identity Remember, Resilience Oh willowy beauty Extracting courage from your soul A costly pearl retrieved through loss Oysters fill with wisdom to cajole Remember, Resilience Yesterday, my daughter repeatedly came to my mind. I walked into my art …
…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 …
Time Machine
I wish I had a time machine that could transport my precious children through time. When I miss the little boy who once skipped stones across the lake, I could send for his return.     The longing to see the impish little girl who pulled her pony tails would instantly bring her back.        We …
Treasures of the Soul
What if the treasures we seek reside within human souls? How amazing it would be if our rewards for a job well done came in terms of promoting faith, hope, and love in others. I doubt we would see all of the actual fruit of our labor this side of heaven but the concept enchants …
Being at Peace with your Purposes
We live in a culture driven by the desire for success as calculated by popularity and wealth. These messages form our value systems as they stream through television and computer screens. While some climb up to the top of the dog pile and wave the flag of success, most people labor in jobs they hate …
The Ironic Side of Destiny
I cannot stop thinking about the strange and mysterious nature of destiny. I often envision something years before its fulfillment. Then I push and strive to make it materialize. Unfortunately, my grasping seems to only go so far before it ends up in disappointment. I go for the cake and end up gnawing on the wax candle. Once …
