Uncategorized – Peace in the Desert

Prison

When I was a senior in high school, we took a school trip to San Francisco. For a girl from upstate NY, this was a special experience. Exploring Alcatraz, I was struck by the starkness of the prison and the reality of confinement. Visiting reminded me of why I never wanted to lose my freedom.Continue reading “Prison”

Let it Go

I will never forget one winter day in 2010. Nothing spectacular happened; it was just an ordinary day. The kids were in and out because of the fresh snow. I spent all morning getting the kids dressed in all the snow apparel and wiping the floor clean of the snow they and the dog hadContinue reading “Let it Go”

Faith

Imagine being 75 years old, settled in a comfortable life, surrounded by family, friends, and traditions. Then one day, as you are going along, the Almighty God speaks to you and calls you to follow him in blind obedience. He asks you to leave your land, family, traditions, and everything you know behind and enterContinue reading “Faith”

FEAR

CRASH. I heard this sound while watching TV and eating my lunch. The next thing I heard was my dog Isaac running up the stairs. He leaped on the couch and ran over to sit on my lap. All 22 pounds of him was shaking and afraid. I don’t know if he created the crash,Continue reading “FEAR”

Rest

Have you ever had a day that unexpectedly pops into your mind, bringing a rush of emotion? We all carry memories of moments we wish we could forget, but those aren’t the ones I’m talking about. I’m thinking about the days that make us smile—a spark of joy as we relive a memory, a timeContinue reading “Rest”

ARMYWORMS

I sit in a chair by my bedroom window for my quiet time in the morning. One morning, I looked out at my front yard and noticed a dead patch of grass. This was incredibly annoying because the grass was entirely redone earlier in spring. We spoke with the landscaper, who said to water theContinue reading “ARMYWORMS”

Sword

Have you ever faced an enemy? Someone who wanted to do great harm to you? I have not, to the best of my knowledge, had someone who wanted to harm me so much that they hunted me down and cornered me to the point I feared death. I have, however, an enemy who is outContinue reading “Sword”

Humility

We live in a society that celebrates greatness. We honor those who excel in a chosen field and host many award ceremonies. Growing up in a Christian home, humility was stressed. Pride was something to be avoided because it was against God. We heard the scripture that “pride goes before the fall” (Proverbs 16:18) referredContinue reading “Humility”

Solar Eclipse

We just experienced a wonder in the heavens. In a spectacular display, the Moon passed between the Sun and the Earth, casting a shadow on the Earth in the latest solar eclipse. Depending on where you live, you could see either a total or a partial eclipse. My daughter is fortunate enough to live inContinue reading “Solar Eclipse”

Blueberries

One fruit that the grocery store always seems to have in supply is blueberries. Blueberries are native to North America and thrive in our conditions of sunshine, cloudless skies, and cool nights. I only really enjoyed the sweetness of this delightful fruit a few years ago. But once I discovered that I enjoyed them, IContinue reading “Blueberries”