The other day I was simply walking down the hall, looked down at myself, and had the fleeting thought of what younger me would think about current me. Honestly, I think I’d scare the dickens out of her. I have never been one to create a long-term plan. This is partly because I…
Recently I found myself in one of those moments. It was a setting where everyone is enjoying themselves and it feels like there is one central focus and that focus is to enjoy life and the people around you. I call it the good bubble. I’ve experienced this in various settings: at family…
Years ago, I was in Thailand and came across a sign above the buffet. It said that customers were welcome to take as much food as they could eat, but that they must eat it all. If food was left behind, the restaurant reserved the right to fine the patron for that. As I…
I went on a retreat once where I wasn’t told what was going to happen that weekend. I knew just one of the details but the rest was shrouded in secrecy. Some of my fellow retreat goers approached this element of unknown as something stressful and developed almost a level of suspicion, trying to…
I’m watching news coverage of a valiant rescue effort. I heard about this story and it tugged at my heart, so I’ve been watching the live stream to follow this story. On my screen is a dark night pierced by a bright spotlight. The light shows silhouettes of about 20 people huddled around a…
I try to watch the news each night so I know what is going on in the world, but it is becoming more of a struggle. I have heard several people express that they don’t watch the news because it is too depressing and I am starting to feel that way also. I have…
I am an only child. This had several advantages when I was growing up. Ours was a peaceful home with no fighting. My mom says she remembers the first time we were visiting family where the siblings were arguing, as siblings tend to do. I was really little and she said I had this…