Last night, I saw the film, "Road Runner: A Film about Anthony Bourdain". I was a big fan of Bourdain's show, Parts Unknown, and enjoyed his best-selling book, "Kitchen Confidential." Anthony invited the world to the table, believing you learn a lot about each other when you share a meal. I savored the conversation, community, … Continue reading Road Runner: Thoughts on Bourdain
Category: Faith Reflections
What Strong People Do
How telling the satisfaction we derive from carrying all the bags in one load from car to kitchen. Crooks of arms branded by momentary blood loss. Screaming muscles hushed by the pride of a few extra steps and minutes saved. Saved from what? Who knows. That isn't the point, dear friend. The point is strong … Continue reading What Strong People Do
In the Artisan’s Hands
If you are from Missouri, you are familiar with Silver Dollar City, an amusement park in the city of Branson. It was a regular summer destination for my family. Shows, rides, taffy, funnel cake, ginormous cinnamon rolls. Clearly the food is a favorite. I especially love the demonstrating craftsmen, mesmerizing onlookers as they carve wood, … Continue reading In the Artisan’s Hands
Grief and Gratitude
For the past 23 years of my life, Rev. Dr. Doyle Sager has been a constant -the last 21 as pastor, coworker, mentor, and friend. How easy it is to take for granted "the constants" in life. Health, time, people - all precious gifts often overlooked as everyday guarantees until absence reveals their true worth. … Continue reading Grief and Gratitude
Losing Focus
Let me begin this post with a confession: Last week I could not remember my 2020 word for the year. No clue. On December 24, 2020, twelve months betrothed to this word, and for all the chocolate in the kingdom, I could not have told you my carefully-chosen, prayerfully-procured word for the year. I've been … Continue reading Losing Focus
Where Did the Year Go
It has been months since I've written on this blog. So much has happened since April 2020, much I never would have imagined nor have wished for any of us. It is a reminder of the gift of not always knowing what is ahead of us. For most of us, to know it all at … Continue reading Where Did the Year Go
Paying Attention
There is a fascinating video online designed to test your awareness. (You may view it at shorturl.at/dBJS4) In the video, there are eight basketball players, four dressed in white, four dressed in black. You are challenged to count how many times the white team passes the basketball. The first time I watched it, I felt proud. … Continue reading Paying Attention
Love around us
Under the Tuscan Sun is a great movie about a writer named Frances who, after learning her husband was cheating on her, gets away to Italy for what was supposed to be a brief tour. Instead, she impulsively purchases a run-down villa. The movie is about the unique challenges and beautiful people she encounters as … Continue reading Love around us
Begin with the Tangles
When I was younger, I used to cross-stitch. Cross-stitch is a form of sewing and counted-thread embroidery in which X-shaped stitches in a tiled, raster-like pattern are used to form a picture. It can be tedious and easy to get all your threads twisted up or to count wrong and mess up the picture. In … Continue reading Begin with the Tangles
A Prayer for a New Week
A new week is knocking at the door, while last week is still sprawled out on my couch. Piles of stuff clutter home and heart and mind. Lord, it feels like there is never enough. Never enough time to rest, to think; Time to play, to breathe. To get it done. To be. Lord, it … Continue reading A Prayer for a New Week
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