Jubilation Unbridled jubilation is a rare thing. But when we see it, how can we help but smile? Even if it comes through a fictional character...

Peace Christmas is almost here! There is still so much to do. My wife and I are handling the stress very differently—and I suspect we are adding to each other's stress as a result of these different approaches.  She has been scampering around doing thousands of tasks.  I am in denial—and will begin scampering over the... Continue Reading →

Sing "I've heard there was a sacred chord that David played. and it pleased the Lord ... Hallelujah!! "  

Comfort I was stuck on today's word when I was thinking about the comfort (n) rather than comfort (v). Yes, we live in such extreme comfort compared to most of the world and most of history.  But that didn't feel right for this photo-a-day discipline (Thanksgiving, fine... not Advent). But, all of the food, warmth, safety,... Continue Reading →

  Filled Bowl filled with good soup, tale of renewed Christmas Hope, souls filled with new warmth.

Speak After nearly a week of a coughing and a sore ribcage... Speaking is not an easy task right now. It's painful. It often triggers more coughing. But this is not the way things should be. The ability to speak is something we take for granted. We do it without even thinking about how we do... Continue Reading →

Vision     We like to believe that seeing is believing. But time and time again, we are confronted by the fact that our vision may not always be accurate. Our point of view, our focus, and depth of field all impact what we see. Sometimes when we focus too closely on the details, we... Continue Reading →

Light   Advent is a time of the year that we think a lot about light. The days are getting shorter.  Everyone is decorating their homes with lights to drive away the dreariness of dark. Our Jewish friends are getting ready to celebrate the miracle of light. We look forward to the arrival of the Christ... Continue Reading →

Joy God definitely has a quirky sense of humor.  Today is my birthday—a day that should be replete with examples of joy... but no, today I spent the day on the couch trying to shake the flu.  I feel like I've been run over by a freight train. Yet that does not change the fact... Continue Reading →

Path Imagine for a moment that you are a swimmer. (OK, Anna, I know you don't have to imagine this.) Imagine that you arrived at the pool to find that your lane, your swimming path, was something other than straight.  It would be rather unsettling.  The only way to cope would be to keep your mind... Continue Reading →