On Leaving a Legacy

A Photo of My Mother in Palm Beach in the 1950s With Her Beloved Silver Leaf Bracelet on Top   I recently wrapped up my umpteenth Bible study in the women’s ministry program I so love and in which I co-lead a small group. We studied Priscilla Shirer’s...

To My Granddaughter on Her 16th Birthday….

My beautiful eldest granddaughter at age 9 My oldest granddaughter turns 16 this coming weekend. For this milestone birthday, I wrote her a letter and I listed 16 life lessons. I hope she soaks them in. Dearest Shelby, How can it be that my very beautiful and oldest...

What IS Sabbath?

Note: I originally wrote this article for Holy Yoga’s monthly The Encounter.  Observe the Sabbath day, to keep it holy. Work six days and do everything you need to do. But the seventh day is a Sabbath to God, your God. Don’t do any work—not you, nor your son,...

Inhaling the Scent of Suffering

Smell is one of the most powerful memory evokers there is. Certain aromas and smells can transport us right back to places and people long ago. Gardenias take me back to my Uncle Louie’s house, reminding me of my family’s somewhat annual visits from...

We, the Divided States of America

Love Conquers All… We, the citizens of the United States of America, are a divided nation, and in less than 3 years we will celebrate our 250th birthday. Is it going to take a mega party to bring us all back together? During a recent fire pit gathering, a friend...

My First Holy Grounding

Photo Credit: Cindi Oakley Johnson, Mayodan Moravian Church Today is my home church’s homecoming. I say “home church,” because it’s the church I attended my entire childhood and youth and of which I remain an associate member. It provided the...

#blessed… Really?

Yours truly on Lanikai Beach, Kailua, HI, 2019 Look at me in the above photo playing around on one of the world’s most famous beaches! That picture was taken on my first trip to Hawaii in early 2019. This coming December, I’ll be making my sixth trip to...

Can We Please Ditch the Labels?

I loathe labels. Think of all the various labels we’ve placed on people over the years: ADD, ADHD, bipolar, schizophrenic, special needs, disabled… these are just a very minute smattering of tags doctors, educators, and others slap on people to move them...

Desires vs. Needs: What Is God’s Will?

Earlier this week, I finished the 40-day prayer challenge in Mark Batterson’s “Draw the Circle.” This was my third go round with this wonderful book and challenge, and I was bound on this journey with 6 of my dearest friends, whose breakthroughs I...