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This week our family recognized a significant milestone – 40 years since the death of Inka van Seventer McDowell. Though I never knew her, I look forward to meeting this sister in heaven one day. I know she both suffered and surrendered for all the people that we both love. Three decades ago, I sat…

      “Joy, which was the small publicity of the pagan, is the gigantic secret of the Christian.” —G. K. Chesterton, Orthodoxy       Been joyful lately? I’ve decided to intentionally look for the joy – and make it my own “gigantic secret” for getting through tough times.       Does that mean I plan to be happy…

      Four days a week I have the privilege of entering a world that is, well, slower. As I have spent the last pandemic year working in a senior assisted living community, God has given me many opportunities to alter my hurried life.                   When tempted to rush, I take a deep breath,…

All the things. Good things. Worthy things. Extraordinary people, adventurous journeys, breathtaking beauty, life-changing words, ful­filling service, quiet moments, and soul-stretching creativity. But how do I choose? My own life is full of obligation, hurry, complicated relation­ships, work demands, health challenges—all seasoned with occasional bouts of guilt and insecurity. Because I can’t do it all.…

When I arrived home from the weekend conference Sunday evening, I realized a hitchhiker had accompanied me in the door. His name was Worry. At once he set to work bringing up all those things that had conveniently been dormant while I had focused on an enjoyable weekend of ministry. One by one, people and…

Have you ever written down your prayers, or journaled an experience that you don’t want to forget? I have found this process can be both revelatory and a way to process emotions, spiritual growth, and focus. Setting aside time and space for life reflection and re-evaluation is a valuable priority, but one that can so…

Like many of you, I think of the children constantly – especially this time of year as school supplies dominate the shelves of every store, and “first day of school” photos fill my social feed. Oh, how my heart goes out to all the children. Everywhere. Today. Always. The most vulnerable among us in this…

Today is the first day of September, which for me will always mean that Fall has begun! And, with Fall comes harvest – a time of “gathering in.” All the planting, all the nourishing, all the work and all the joy have brought us to this place. And now we see the fruit of our…

I grew up in south Georgia surrounded by a vine that was lush and green with fragrant blossoms. It also grew like wildfire and was practically impossible to destroy.             Kudzu.             Some of you are nodding in recognition and others are ignorant of the scourge of this beautiful vine. Evidently, at the 1876 Philadelphia…

It is incredibly hard to “quit while you’re ahead.” To be sidelined in the middle of living out your dream. For whatever reason. And yet, God, the Master Gardener, “cuts off every branch of mine that doesn’t produce fruit, and he prunes the branches that do bear fruit so they will produce even more”. John…