Embrace the Possibilities
In the face of challenges, embrace the possibilities of the new year.
discovery
Working Through the Mess
Sometimes, we have to work through the mess. Once again this year, I am participating in Inktober, a challenge created by artist Jake Parker to crest one ink drawing a day for the month of October. My first year was 2016, and the process was helpful in strengthening my drawing skills. This year, I am a little behind, but enjoying the process. Day one of […]
Ordinary Blessings
We always seem to be searching for the extraordinary. There is a sense that we almost crave what is new, different, and more unique. That desire fuels creativity and invention, and pushes us to explore new frontiers. That same desire can lead to pain and destruction, and can cause us to miss the blessings that are already ours. During our recent Adirondack vacation, we decided […]
God Sightings
When we see God, the awe and wonder of the experience changes us, and we slowly become windows through which other people have their own God sightings. Another year passed without seeing the Perseid meteor shower. Every year, I make an effort to see this cosmic display, and cloud cover obscures my view. It was over two decades ago that I saw them while working […]
Wait for It
“Then the Lord answered me and said: Write the vision; make it plain on tablets, so that a runner may read it. For there is still a vision for the appointed time; it speaks of the end, and does not lie. If it seems to tarry, wait for it; it will surely come, it will not delay.” – Habakkuk 2:2-3 Twenty-four years ago, God gave […]
Discern God’s Will – Reason
Before we consider the role of reason in spiritual discernment, I want to mention I comment I received on yesterday’s post. A concern was raised regarding God’s involvement in our experiences. Specifically, that God does not cause bad things to happen in our lives so that we will learn a lesson. This is a very important point! Rather than simply make a passing comment on […]
Discern God’s Will – Experience
Swiss theologian Karl Barth once said we should do theology with a Bible in one hand and a newspaper in the other.” While newspapers are no longer the dominant media source, his point is still quite valid. We need our experiences to properly discern God’s will. Yes, as we already established, we need the truth of Scripture and the solid foundation of Tradition, but we understand […]
I Found It!
Have you ever found yourself searching for just the right thing, yet felt like nothing quite hit the mark? As a foreign exchanges student once said to us, “It’s good, but it’s not the one.” One such search in my life was for a journal that met my needs. As a writer, observer, and life-long learner, I find journals a valuable aid to capturing the […]