Why no, it’s not snowing in Sonoma County. We’ve got a beautiful blue sky and 65 degrees. The windows are open and the house is flooded with light and warmth. I feel sorry for all of you romping in the freshly fallen snow back east. Which brings me to Puxatony Phil, a critter I’ve never met, but whom I’ve talked…
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Slash Marks the Very Good Trail
“Slash marks the very good trail.” What does that mean? Several years ago we enjoyed the movie End of the Spear, the story of the infamous murder of five missionaries in Ecuador in 1955. The movie was made by Steven Saint, son of one of the murdered missionaries. He spent time living in the jungle with those same Waodani (Aucas)…
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The blessing of showing up
Sometimes, just showing up can be a blessing for someone else. My friend Bob experienced that one day. Bob spent several months two years ago mentoring a man, we’ll call Jay. Jobless, family-less, hopeless, and discouraged, Jay couldn’t understand why following God had landed him in such a grim spot. Bob didn’t have any quick answers either. They spent weeks…
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Thanks for gravity
After two weeks stepped out of time into a different life, I’m back. I hope your Christmas season was as rich with friends and relatives as mine. This morning as I prayed and considered God‘s many blessings, out of my mouth came, “thank you, Lord, for gravity.” While I am the mother of an astronomer, even I thought that a…
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A Lost Job’s riches
My husband lost his job once. He didn’t have full-time employment for a year. As a retired sailor, he did have income and our family didn’t worry about starving. But I immediately went into survival mode and watched every penny with an intensity that made everyone feel uncomfortable. I couldn’t bear to walk into a store for months afterward; my…
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Christmas Chaos Joy
I mumbled my grievances as I stumbled into the car yesterday. Hauling clarinet, music book, Sunday School lesson book, answer book, water bottle, bulky purse and a raincoat, I fell into the passenger seat completely disgruntled. I hate being so busy and could only wish the day would be over soon. “If you looked the word ‘busy’ up in the…
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