How often our prayers are for internal peace and tranquility, not for internal disturbance and disruption. Why would God want us to be disturbed?
How often our prayers are for internal peace and tranquility, not for internal disturbance and disruption. Why would God want us to be disturbed?
A favorite cartoon of my kids is Thomas & Friends. You probably know it. A group of animated train engines get sent by their master Sir Topham Hatt on a variety of jobs. Our hero, the wide-eyed, loveable Thomas, either by his cleverness or in spite of himself, responds in each instance by successfully accomplishing his task in the face of dire obstacles.
I’ve been thinking a lot about how wise owners face reality. Recently I saw an American television show called “Hoarders”. This show is about people who keep everything they get their hands on; papers, clothing, cans, objects, anything. They attach value to anything even though it is worthless and is destroying their lives.
Traveling has taught me many things. I am not unaccustomed to moments of feeling very suddenly conspicuous and I can now discern when a situation will allow for an apologetic laugh, versus when it’s best to high-tale it.
When the news broke about the bomb at the Boston Marathon, most of us reacted, understandably and appropriately, with horror, grief, and anger. Some may have even cried instinctively, “Oh, the humanity!” a phrase made popular by the reporter who uttered these words after witnessing the explosion of the Hindenburg in 1937.
It seems we live in a world of differing viewpoints when it comes to material possessions and the experience of owning things.
Often grace is perceived of as something given by God and received by us. No doubt this is a profound truth, but it is often framed in this way: God gives, we receive — end of story.
As we hear and see the news of disasters from around the world in any given moment, it seems impossible not to identify with those immediately involved in their overwhelming question, “Why? What does this mean?”
When we speak of doubt and certainty in the same breath we generally assume that certainty is the opposite of doubt. But is that true? Is certainty the opposite of doubt?
I’ve always preferred the analog clocks over the digital ones. The ones with the dials, remember those? I love those watches that show the gears churning back and forth. They connect me to a more physical age.