Everyone has a 9/11/2001 story. Here is mine. May God bless the remembering and sharing of yours. Tuesday. I looked forward to it every week. No early morning. No meetings. No paperwork, project management, or pastoral counseling. Just me, my laundry, some genealogy research and a chance to breathe. I poured coffee, sat cross-legged inContinue reading “One Day in September”
Tag Archives: wisdom
A Word for Those Who Need It: Holiday Version
In the next few days, many of us will gather with extended family to celebrate the holidays. For some, this will be a joyous occasion filled with laughter, stories, good food and the chance to relax with people they love. Others will spend quality time with relatives who insist on indulging in a favorite addiction,Continue reading “A Word for Those Who Need It: Holiday Version”
Close at Hand
A friend sent me a cartoon that, as she intended, gave me a good laugh. It was a drawing of a woman standing behind a table with the contents of her purse strewn across its surface. She had a look of panic on her face and a cell phone stuck between her shoulder and ear.Continue reading “Close at Hand”
Questions
My grandmother lived two doors away when I was seven. I loved to visit and did so often. One afternoon, on her way to town, my mother pulled up in front of Nana’s mailbox. “Get in,” she shouted. I walked to the passenger side of the car. “Wait, I forgot something.” I ran back toContinue reading “Questions”
The Guys
As the congregation finished singing the recessional hymn, I walked down the aisle toward the open sanctuary door and took my place just inside. I smoothed my white robe, adjusted the cincture, and made sure the stole hung evenly around my neck. This was my first Sunday as the associate pastor. I needed to lookContinue reading “The Guys”
The Right Time
Chronos Tick—6 am alarm Tock—56-minute commute Tick—2 pm staff meeting Tock—40-year career Shove feet into shoes without untying. Run. Kairos The hint of sunlight at the horizon. Trees blossoming on the roadside. The value of working together. A life that matters. Savor. Notice. Retie shoes for a comfortable fit. Walk. Wander. Wonder. Chronos Tick—calendarize Tock—prioritizeContinue reading “The Right Time”
The Same Flight
The commute to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune was short, but once inside, I had five miles of live ordinance range to cross to French Creek, home of the 2nd Medical Battalion. Along the way I passed the gas chamber, where twice a year we donned masks in a toxic environment to ensure readiness. WhenContinue reading “The Same Flight”
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Look at the Fish
My windshield has been the recipient of some of the foulest trash talk imaginable, and I make no apology for it. Growing up on New York’s Long Island, home to the world’s longest parking lot, laughably named the Expressway, I was predisposed to such behavior. I apprenticed in the passenger seat of my mother’s Mustang,Continue reading “Look at the Fish”
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Crumbs to a Beggar
For nearly a year between college and seminary, I was employed as a live-in companion for a 90-year-old woman. My job was to cook and serve her meals, see that she took her medication, run errands, and help her with activities of daily living. This was not always easy, for Mrs. L. was in theContinue reading “Crumbs to a Beggar”
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Bender Tales 