An Unexpected Call

It was an unexpected phone call so early in the morning. I was somewhat surprised by the voice on the other end, but the news that was shared was much more unexpected. I listened silently and thought to myself, "how can all this be, especially from one who aspires such integrity?" Again, I find myself without answers or causes or reasons, except to say that somehow there is always the temptation or the danger to become like the very ones we despise. Yes, it is a fact of life that not all of our situations will be fair or just, and usually most will not be. But that doesn't give license to be like the rest, especially when given a position of leadership. Even if your time is short in a no-win circumstance, you still maintain honesty, integrity, and respect. Although, I was not expecting that unexpected call, it served to remind me to do what is expected, especially when it's character that counts . . .

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But . . .

I had to pause for a moment, as I began reading the text this early morning. But they, our fathers, acted arrogantly: they became stubborn and would not listen to Thy commandments." (Nehemiah 9:18). How often do I find myself verbalizing "but? what about? what then? what if? really?" All the phrases that feed doubt and angst into my life are found in that one conjunction. Memory stands as the faithful argument against it, but when faced with future days all seems easily forgotten. This verse comes to a people who had returned to their homeland after being ravaged and exiled by foreign powers. Nehemiah is reminding them of who they are, and especially of their one and only God who has forever been faithful to them despite their faithlessness and wrongdoing. He reminds them how God is a God of forgiveness, slow to anger, longsuffering, overflowing with lovingkindness, never forsaking them even when He was totally forgott...

Summer Breeze

Gypsy Rose immediately prances to the back door as she hears her name. We are ready for our morning walk, which has started later than usual, since I have some of these summer days off. But it is still early enough to catch the morning breeze. Walking south, I am refreshed by feeling the gentle wind all around me, it's a cool wrap in contrast to the summer sun. But it all seems to disappear as I turn the corner and head west, my summer breeze is gone. I am at a loss for it even as I continue north and east. It's only as I begin the southern sidewalks back home that I am met with the blissful breeze. I realize that though I wasn't feeling it for most of my steps, it was there all along, I just had to turn the right direction to get relief . . . Sometimes, that is how my relationship with God seems. Yes, I know He is ever near and is with me, but I don't feel that fact. Sometimes my prayers seem to be in a vacuum, and I'm ...

Brief Moments of Grace

"But now for a brief moment grace has been shown from the Lord our God, to leave us an escaped remnant and to give us a peg in His holy place, that our God may enlighten our eyes and grant us a little reviving in our bondage." (Ezra 9:8) Summer welcomes me today with a cloudy cool morning and a subtle fresh breeze. The day is probably teasing me with moderate temperatures before it will launch into more robust sunlight and heat. The scorching temperatures have given an abundance of tomatoes, bush beans and yellow squash in my garden, while tormenting the kale, cilantro, spinach and herbs. My refreshment is found swimming laps in the pool and teaching or rather reminding Gypsy Rose to stay in her lane while we swim together. Days seem to run together, slip away too fast, as I often feel locked in a routine of sleep, work, cook, repeat. I know that I need to pause and reflect, because even in that daily ritual are God's brief moments of gr...

Mary's Heartbeats

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