How do you feel when folks air their laundry? Does it make you uncomfortable? Does it depend on the circumstance or the situation? In this post I told you about a childhood memory. You may remember that I couldn’t look at old “Mr. Fletcher” quite the same way once his wife started hanging their laundry out to dry. Something about the parade of eye-fetching boxer shorts …
Ahhh. Comedians. Don’t we just love ’em?! (Except, of course, when they embarrass, bluster, or spout jokes that really aren’t funny.) I had a different post planned for today, but after a recent experience, I switched thoughts midstream. Here’s the setup: I like to smile, laugh, and encourage. I’m a people person. I like to talk, do, watch, and listen. I’m real, I rarely mince …
The thing about love is it’s just so unpredictable. We toss the word around casually, as if the word itself gives credence to the emotion. The biblical definition (1st Corinthians 13) is watered down to resemble a pitiful interpretation of what God intended. We’ve made the word commonplace. A sham. A poor substitute for lack of a more accurate descriptor. For example: I love Junior …
Writers realize that we never know when the writing bug will strike. We might be in bed, church, or even the shower when our creative muse lights upon our brain and clamps down–hard! I know from experience, when the writing bug bites, I have to let nature take its course. The quicker I “treat the bite” (AKA “write”) the better I feel. Years ago, …
It’s a shame that Valentine’s Day can’t be every day. Indeed, the world would be better for it. I don’t mean hearts, flowers, and fattening chocolate (though who could argue with that?) I’m thinking more about our attitudes–the countenance of our spirits. The way we treat others. Our actions, words, and endearments. What if our souls radiated the same giddiness year ’round as what …
One of the greatest highs of my writing journey is making new friends. Connecting with like-minded believers is a tremendous blessing. You may remember when I interviewed Chad R. Allen in November. Chad is the Editorial Director of Baker Books, and he is a ministry-minded, down-to-earth fellow with a heart for helping others. In fact, I met Dr. Hansen by …
It’s Friday! Squeeee! Ever have one of those weeks where you think Friday can’t come soon enough? Well, that’s been my week this week. I’ve kept my nose to the grindstone, and I don’t mind telling you, I’m ready for a respite. Today I wanted to dish a little about an upcoming blog post. Please settle back in your comfy chair, have a …
Do you wear your heart on your sleeve like I do? Do you find yourself an emotional wreck after a Hallmark commercial? Do babies, puppies, and acts of kindness leave you misty-eyed? Wonderful! I’m so glad I’m not alone. For those of us who feel things deeply, there’s the tendency to let our hearts overrule our heads. We’re sensitive. We’re …
I think we’ve all heard the witty (albeit somewhat tired) phrase “Just seize the moment!” Meant to be an encouragement, it seemed for a while everyone was saying it. Let me just add my two cents. Some folks may roll their eyes when they hear that expression, as if it’s yet another empty platitude or well-meaning directive, but those words really do …
Photo Credit: Angus Kirk/Creative Commons Ask writers why they write and I bet you’ll get a hundred different answers. Ask them again what motivates them to write, and I think the answers may boil down to this one thing: imagination. Writers are wired differently. We’re artists. We see things in multidimensional worlds and colors. Our minds race with new and varied possibilities. …
