a featured piece is relaxing with friends over an extended dinner, candlelight flickering, sharing stories with no consideration of the passing time.
in search of silver linings
Isaias gave me more than just eight hot days; it gave me the chance to purge and replenish. I hope post-COVID, I will take the same care in deciding what I will bring with me and what will be left behind.
friendship
Sometimes I wonder if the risk of infection is worse than the risk of compromised mental health. I was reminded this week to prioritize friendship. I was reminded that even those friends who seem to have it all, may be struggling on the inside. I was reminded to probe, to love, to care, to not hold back, and to trust our friends with our most vulnerable and honest thoughts.
summer storm
This fall, we are going to do things differently; maybe that is the one certainty. It may be hard to plan. We may have little control over the outcome, but maybe that isn’t so different after all.
unmasking
If we are able to withstand the risk of rejection, maybe even more than once, the chances are great that we will find a home, a tribe, the ability to relax in our own skin in the company of others, and a place where we are known and truly seen.
july 4, 2020
The fireworks and festivities might be cancelled this year, but Americans will show up to honor our country and celebrate the 4th of July.
hands off my story
We own the memories and the details of our life, as we see it. And no one gets to steal our story.
to LSF and all the amazing dads out there
Many might claim that a day to celebrate fathers is a materialistic ploy to sell Hallmark cards and mugs, but I would argue that fathers need to be recognized for the vital role they play in developing our children.
my frontline
These past few months at home, when we have quarantined and spent time away from our normal lives, I am reminded of my summer also away from my normal life. And if I learned one thing from my time in the hands of the workers on the frontline - we are in very good hands.
different pomp, new circumstances
Although I feel more comfortable using words, recently I have spent the bulk of my time creating a video for our son who will graduate virtually next Sunday. It is humbling to admit that my painstakingly slow efforts could have been realized quickly by anyone among the graduating class, but I know there will be less pomp this year, given the circumstances, so I decided to do something a little more. I intended the video to be a gift to our son, but what I discovered in the process is the incredible joy that our son’s life has given me.
holding onto the extraordinary
During this time of suffering, there have been countless examples of extraordinary action. How do we hold onto the goodness, long after the pandemic has subsided?
jet plane
I woke up this morning humming the tune, “Leaving on a Jet Plane” and it wasn’t hard to figure out why John Denver’s 1966 song had found its way into my subconscious. Wouldn’t it be great to take a little break? “All my bags are packed. I’m ready to go.” A change of scenery would do me wonders. Virtual Zoom backgrounds and scenic routes offered on my stationary bike screen are nice, but I could really use some time away.
now
“It will be ok. Just you wait and see, everything will be fine, better than fine, even.”
a little bit of good friday and a little bit of easter in all our lives
Good Friday may bring a community together, encouraging individuals to put more value in the greater good than in singular aspirations, or it may stop us in our tracks, knowing that without the experience of Good Friday, life might have been much smaller.
the marathon
"Life is a marathon, not a sprint" is an analogy that is painfully overused and probably inherently flawed, but when I consider this time we are in now, it's hard to ignore the similarities.
love rising
In the middle of great turmoil, there is always great love.
time to stand
My watch vibrates, reminding me that there are signs out there. Do you see them?
corona connection
At times like these, we put politics and differences aside to care for each other. We do that well. We always have.
a proper send off
For a climber, letting go of a handhold is a necessary yet scary part of the sport. To reach a higher stance, the climber must release his or her grip, stretch towards the heavens and search for another handhold.
finding grace
“When it is time to go, you thank God for what He has given you and you hope that you have made the lives of a few people a little better.”
healing addiction, person by person
The truth is, I was not a wine connoisseur. I can’t even remember if I liked the taste. I drank because the wine gave me something very tangible and I liked the way it made me feel.