The day Christ died

(A version of this story ran on March 25 2016.) In my December 2015 blog, Taking a walk in Mary’s footsteps, I posted some thoughts on what Mary might have been thinking about as she gave birth to Jesus. I continue the story by offering a glimpse of how I imagine Mary suffered, seeing her now-grown son crucified on the cross,...

Faith to take the first step

Some great writers can sit down at a desk and conjure up an inspirational phrase or two. If they're really good and, maybe even a bit lucky, they manage to come up with enough great lines to pull together a book or two or an interesting speech. And then some great thinkers like Martin Luther...

When life brings hard choices!

We face tough choices every day. We can make the best of the day or we can curse the sun for rising up over the horizon. We can react positively to life’s little annoyances or we can let them lead us down a trap of frantic frustration. We can put others first or we can think...

Everything’s gonna be alright

The voice on the other end of the call became garbled and faded out. I saw the senior executive's face on the Microsoft Teams call, but I couldn't make out what he said. When he came back on, all I could hear him saying was "what do you think, Brian?" In this crazy COVID-19 world,...

Signs, sign, everywhere a sign

One sign gave an ominous warning, “Do not cross. Thank you.” Another advertised a national weight loss program. Still another promoted a new video streaming service. Finally two more announced a train crossing and “Road Work Ahead.” I felt like the Aerosmith song was playing itself out in front of me: “Sign, sign, everywhere a...

A trip to my happy place

The news has been depressing: Impeachment Hearings for President Trump, California wildfires, and a school shooting seemingly every few weeks to name a few. You try to keep your head up, keep positive thoughts, and go about your own business, but it can be challenging. To help in that area, I like to find my...

Fighting writer’s block

The words and ideas come fast and furious. I can’t get them down on the laptop screen fast enough. They spill out of me bucket after bucket, more defined than the one before. I string two phrases together and two more replace them around the bend. I finish with one blog and before I know...

Trying to fall asleep on Christmas Eve

I couldn’t sleep. I turned to one side, then back to the other. I pulled my pillow over my head and clinched my eyes tight hoping that both would miraculously put me to sleep. I tried to count sheep, but nothing seemed to help put me into a blissful sleep. I was tired, but I...