A Color-Coded Dating Trend
What is a beige flag? Social media sites describe it as the “odd habits of a romantic partner that fall somewhere between a green and a red flag.
Brother Time and Sister Space
Time is our God, and we are its flock of submissive followers. We worship at the feet of time, creating golden idols in the form of clocks and watches.
Mini-Adventures Enrich the Spirit
Adventures don’t have to be big and bold. Adventures come in many sizes and forms and help us feel young again. I like taking mini-adventures that sometimes aren’t planned but thrust on you like when you are riding your bike in the afternoon and the summer rains make an unexpected appearance.
What is Authentic Gratitude?
The “Gratitude” Industry must be huge. Countless books and journals focus on the topic, including titles such as The One Minute Gratitude Journal; Good Days Start with Gratitude, TheGratitude Journal for Men, The Gratitude Journal for Women (because of course gratitude differs across gender lines?), and The Psychology of Gratitude, to name just a few.
If You Want to Make God Laugh...
Dear God,
I hope miracles are still in your wheelhouse because I sure need a couple right now. I have been so sick for ten days. Please help me surrender my raggedy breath, snotty nose, and fierce, shuddering cough to your (hopefully) healing hands. I confess to having doubts right now about your very existence. Why would such a loving force subject her children to such misery?
#Saytheirnames: Ruby Freeman and Wandrea “Shaye” Moss
Happy 4th of July! Today is America’s day to celebrate our independence and the brave people who make it possible. I’ve been thinking about our democracy and freedoms of late as I have watched the January 6th House committee hearings. I’m pretty sure I’ve watched every minute of them. I guess semi-retirement affords me the luxury of flex time so I can watch the hearings at 2:00 in the afternoon on a Tuesday. I’m glad because it feels important. At the risk of sounding hyperbolic, it feels like the health of our democracy is at stake. These hearings have given me a measure of hope as brave Democrats and Republicans have stood up to protect our democratic processes.
Friendships Work Because, Hopefully, "We Aren't all Nuts On the Same Day"
I’m a big fan of writer Ann Lamott and follow her on Facebook. She recently posted about turning sixty-eight. To arrive at this age, she says, means you weren’t born yesterday. It means you have experienced a great deal–friends and family ravaged by cancer, Ukraine, Sandy Hook, the warming of the earth. “How do we handle unspeakable loss?” she asks. By having a few best friends with whom you can share your truth.
The Squeaky Wheel
Access to medical care during the time of COVID-19 is limited. You have to be a squeaky wheel advocating on behalf of your loved ones.
New Year's Reflections
A Passion for Clay Molded a Friendship
I lost a beloved friend last week. Julie Caton was (it’s hard to use past tense in referring to her) a cultured, intelligent, grace-filled person. She quietly attended mass at St. Margaret Mary Catholic church most days. She didn’t make a big deal about her spiritual life, she simply lived out her practices. As sophisticated as Julie was, she disdained fancy. She embraced Florida’s casual lifestyle. Everything about Julie was authentic.
The Jeremiah Project Obit
“Just like the clay in the potter’s hand, so are you in my hand”. That line served as a metaphor for our program. Clay comes from the ground and grounds those who touch it; clay requires centering on the potter’s wheel before it can be shaped; clay is forgiving, it can be remolded if we make a mistake; shaping a vessel simulates the power we have to shape our own lives. These were the messages we hoped, ever so subtly, to convey. It’s amazing how a ball of clay and a spinning wheel ground and center even the most anxious of pupils. Creative expression can be an oasis, offering a refuge for kids whose lives are often fraught with turmoil and hardship.
Hot Golf
God Must Have a Sense of Humor
On Being is great for Exploring hard questions Listen for meaning
Happy 87th Birthday Mom
#Choose to challenge the Bra
"I Can See Clearly Now..."
Cataract surgery has transformed my impressionistic view of the world into a more realistic view, as I am now able to see the gorgeous details of nature more clearly.
Vaccine Resolutions
Grieving the Loss of a Friend During a Pandemic
A Cry from my Bra Drawer
Find a full index of all of the Be Brave. Lose the Beige! blog posts here