The birds are singing as if they know a secret I do not. Their joyful song dances around on the cool breeze. Unlike me, they don’t have a care in the world. They flit from branch to branch, following me along the trail to sing over me. As usual, they sing a chorus together, each … Continue reading Shelter in Place
Be Brave
The definition of bravery is the quality or state of showing mental or moral strength to face danger, fear, or difficulty. Showing no fear in times of trouble does not mean there is no fear. It means walking into a scary time prepared to meet the challenge. Brave comes from the word bravo, which means … Continue reading Be Brave
Before and After
This blog was originally written in March 2020 just as the pandemic was arriving in America. A year later I have adapted it because it still fits! Now, as I try to process this past year it feels surreal, yet God is not surprised. We might be wondering how this crisis could happen, but he … Continue reading Before and After
Dis-appointment
We call something that happens at an appointed time an appointment. We put it on our calendar and we plan our lives around it. Sometimes our calendars get so filled up with our appointed times we have little room for things that are not appointed. Our culture is okay with this because we all live … Continue reading Dis-appointment
Batten Down the Hatches
Prepare for a storm. Get ready. Equip yourself for trouble. The old 18th century nautical phrase, batten down the hatches, was coined when sailors, literally nailed battens (wooden rods) over tarps to prevent water from flooding into the hatch of a ship during a storm. It was a preventative measure to keep the ship from … Continue reading Batten Down the Hatches
And the Rain Came
We went to Asia in the dry season. Cold once the sun went down, and delightfully sunny and warm during the day, and because it is the dry season, there wasn’t a cloud in sight. Layering was the key to being comfortable temperature wise, but one morning we woke to an overcast sky. The sun … Continue reading And the Rain Came
Every Tribe and Tongue
One of the things I most love in my travels is worshiping God with others who are different from me. The cultures, the languages, the music, it is all so very unusual and rings distinctively in my ears. The differences cause me to step out of my comfort zone and they wake me up … Continue reading Every Tribe and Tongue
Badge of Honor
I am a planner. When I travel, my planning skill manifests in arriving at the airport extra early. Whereas Bill would slide in on two wheels 20 minutes before take-off, I want to be there an hour before the two hours they recommend, “just in case.” When I lead trips for my work we … Continue reading Badge of Honor
Follow Me
I went to a party this weekend. It was a gathering of family I hadn’t met yet. Have you ever had those kinds of encounters, where you meet people and you know you belong together? It just feels as if you were cut from the same cloth. It happened like that at a celebration of … Continue reading Follow Me
The Greatest of These…
In my life, I have witnessed all the different kinds of love. Romantic love. Brotherly love. Self-love. In Greek, there are many words for love because they have a name for each kind. All of them are types of human love. I have also witnessed supernatural love. It is the kind that can only come … Continue reading The Greatest of These…
Michelle's Mosaic 