They scamper about my yard, carefree and lively.  These twin fawns have been a source of considerable joy, and a few chuckles, as I observe their antics.  For the most part, these young deer stick close to their mother, looking for food and watching for predators.   What has been interesting to watch is what happens when something startles this young deer family.  The doe knows immediately to take shelter in the trees to keep her family safe.  Multiple times this season I have watched her take off quickly with one of her fawns following close behind her.  But one of the twins is a rascal.  For whatever reason, it…

There is just something about writing on paper that appeals to me.  I love the feel of a pen in my hand.  As the ink flows to paper, I feel the ideas pour out of my brain.  I have notepads everywhere, jotting down ideas and taking study notes. Computers expedite writing and I do appreciate them for the ease of editing and producing a final copy.  Yet, I am reluctant to give up writing with pen and paper just yet.  I seem to think much better as my hand must form the words of my creation.  The flowing movement of the pen inspires me and urges me on to create…

I don’t get into urban areas very much at the best of times and even less in these pandemic days.  Every time I go in of late, there are more changes.  Since my last trip in, masks are now required by law for any indoor place.  Having masks being commonplace is something I never thought could happen here.  It changes my approach to a lot of things and I am sure it does the same for others. One of the most challenging activities with a mask is trying to read people’s emotions.  I am used to conveying a lot of meaning through my facial expressions because I am not a…

Limp noodle.  Fuzz brained.  Dead tired.  Overwhelmed.  Absolutely drained.  Emotionally exhausted.  Physically spent. Do any of these phrases summarize how you are doing at the moment?  As much as we want to live vibrant Christian lives, there are days when strength seems fleeting and life is more challenging. I find it helpful at these times to remember that true strength does not come from within myself.  Sure, I might be determined to get something accomplished or be aggressive in pursuing a goal, but I can only power through so much on my own.  Inevitably my own strength fails. I take comfort in the word of the Psalmist: “My flesh and…

The doorbell rang and the members of our small Bible study group instantly were on the alert.  Our pastor had informed us that a young woman had approached him, asking about a women’s Bible study group.  While he said he couldn’t divulge the details, what he did tell us was that she needed a group of women to show her support in a rough time of her life. We weren’t sure what to expect when the door opened.  The woman at the door looked in at us with a mixture of trepidation and caution, but also with purpose. As she entered the room where we sat around prepared for our…