I am a native of my community. I was born and raised in the same local place. Then so moved away and spent a little more than a decade out of state before finding my way back home. That also describes my relationship with God and church. I grew up in church, from the time... Continue Reading →
The hills of Santa Maria are teaming with rolling acres of farmland. Even in June, there were fields in different stages of harvest. It was far from what I expected, but as I listened to the stories from my aunt about the work that her family of origin did in the fields, it took on... Continue Reading →
Sometimes the most beautiful scenes are in the rearview mirror looking back on our lives. We have been driving most of the evening, leaving San Francisco and heading south towards Pismo Beach. We had hoped to reach the beach by sunset, but alas it was not meant to be today. Instead as we rounded the... Continue Reading →
Passage - But you are a chosen people, the King’s cohanim, a holy nation, a people for God to possess! Why? In order for you to declare the praises of the One who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. 1 Peter 2:9 Restated in my own words - I declare the praises of the Lord who took... Continue Reading →
I have a bad habit. I never thought of it as one until this week, but there it was staring me in the face, across multiple settings. I suppose I have always done it, as a child, I was the youngest of five siblings. I thought everyone knew everything, except me. I learned to be... Continue Reading →
The word leaped from the reading that I was listening to this morning, Christine Caine's new book Unexpected "Stalled." I don't remember if the word following was faith or hope, listening while I get ready for work often means I listen to some books over and over to get the full impact; but the... Continue Reading →
I hear a lot about culture in my life. I live in what is called a melting pot area as we have people from all different nationalities pour into our community on a regular basis. Many people want those moving in to the community to conform to our culture. At work we talk about the... Continue Reading →
I found myself the other day thinking that possibly my friends that had not made it to adulthood had the better life. I am not suicidal or wish for death. Those of us left behind, we miss them; those who are now gone from my life are in the presence of God. All the... Continue Reading →
Kairos that was the word that kept running through my mind. Divine, opportune time. That is what I take that word to mean. Versus Chronos which is more of a linear time. I think about a conversation with a counselor friend of mine. She was frustrated because the population we were working with didn't seem... Continue Reading →
A few weeks ago, I had an unexpected surprise in the midst of mourning. I had been at my grandmother's visitation, and while catching up with family is nice, my heart was sad. It had been a long day as my grandfather had a heart attack that morning so I had spent the day at... Continue Reading →
Restoring Voice 