I spoke to a woman in Toronto. She was not a hugger, but something told her one day at the bus stop to offer a hug to a stranger. Well my acquaintance, Paula, just didn’t want to offer a hug to a stranger, yet something inside of (intuition?) her would not let up and finally Paula walked over and asked … Read More
We therefore ought to . . . become fellow workers for the truth. 3 John 1:8 Artist and scientist Michael Flynn designed a singing bowl for display in ArtPrize, an international art competition held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. The bowl requires no electricity, but it does require something that is in short supply: cooperation. As I observed people trying to … Read More
THE MOST YOU CAN DO The Summer of my eleventh year was a wonderful time of joy and innocence. My days were spent riding my bike, walking in the bright green woods around my home, swimming in the crystal clear river that ran by my house, playing in fields full of wild flowers, and looking up at the clouds. I … Read More
The story is told about a New York City policeman investigating a case. He made a phone call, but even before he finished dialing, he somehow knew he had made a mistake. He let it ring, though. The phone rang once, twice – then someone picked it up. “You’ve got the wrong number!” a husky male voice snapped before the … Read More
“Why is that man so ugly, and the mommy so pretty?” Five-year-old Nancy tugged on her mother’s arm, and pointed. “Sh! Sh!” said her mother. “You wouldn’t want them to hear, would you?” “But Mommy, he’s ugly! How can that pretty lady stand to look at him?” The mother glanced toward the couple her daughter was pointing at, quickly taking … Read More
There was a young man who had been diagnosed with a terminal illness and had been given three months to live. So as he was getting his things in order, he contacted his pastor and had him come to his house to discuss certain aspects of his final wishes. He told him which songs he wanted sung at the service, … Read More
~ Jumping on the bandwagon ~ Wading through paperwork ~ Running around in circles ~ Pushing your luck ~ Playing in traffic ~ Spinning your wheels ~ Adding fuel to the fire ~ Beating your head against the wall ~ Climbing the walls ~ Beating your own drum ~ Dragging your heels ~ Jumping to conclusions ~ Grasping at straws … Read More
The Envelope It’s just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas — oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of … Read More
I was at the corner grocery store buying some early potatoes. I noticed a small boy, delicate of bone and feature, ragged but clean, hungrily appraising a basket of freshly picked green peas. I paid for my potatoes but was also drawn to the display of fresh green peas. I am a pushover for creamed peas and new potatoes. Pondering … Read More
“I’m sorry. Please forgive me! I don’t mean to hold you up,” he said as he struggled to get off the escalator. I’ll admit to it. There have been times when walking or driving behind an older person, I’ve gotten impatient and upset. I’ve huffed and zoomed around them because I was in a hurry to get nowhere. Perhaps I’m … Read More
