There were three of us in our congregation desperately ill at the same time: Liz, Lora, and Lori. None of us saw it coming. All of us thought we’d beat it when it did arrive. We are all believers. We all had hundreds of people praying for us. We all have husbands and children who need us. I’m the … [Read more...] about Survivor Guilt
Blog Posts
Muddy, But Not Alone
A thought that has been distinct in my world the last few years mirrors the story of a child frightened to sleep alone in her room. Her worn-out mom reassured her, “Have you tried praying? Jesus is always with you. Don’t you believe that?” The little girl replied, “Sure, I do. But right now I … [Read more...] about Muddy, But Not Alone
Sinking Into the Mud
Kansas heat can kill farm animals if they run out of water. So in third grade, I was given the job of watering the hogs twice a day during the summer. Everyone else was in the field or working in town. I was honored to have a job that carried so much weight, that Dad trusted me with (what I … [Read more...] about Sinking Into the Mud
Absence with a Presence
Last week, we were all in awe as we saw images of a new planet being born: PDS 70, the new baby in the solar system. It was incredible to see the world focused on our God, still at work on His world, creatively honing and adding, when often all we see are the things taken away. And I celebrate … [Read more...] about Absence with a Presence
Absence with a Purpose
Letting go of kids exposes a raw place in my soul, and an unyielding lump in my throat. I cried every time they started a new phase of life: preschool, kindergarten, high school, college, marriage. Something inside a parent dies a little every time a child crosses another threshold. And yet, … [Read more...] about Absence with a Purpose
When Facts Fail Us
We recited the numbers every day in 5th grade science class as soon as we entered Mr. Vickers’ classroom. He would ask, “How far away is the sun?” We would respond in singsong unison, “93 million miles.” Then, “How fast does light travel?” Followed by, “186,000 miles per second.” I had no … [Read more...] about When Facts Fail Us