Brennan Manning tells the sweet and simple story of a friend’s elderly uncle who spontaneously skipped on a hill in Ireland, filled with delight of life itself. “Uncle,” the man said, “why are you so happy?” “Ahhhh,” the uncle replied through his brogue accent in which you could almost hear him grin, “Ohhhhh, you see …” he paused in joy, “the Father is very fond of me. The Father is is so awfully fond of me.” …
Bush and I were sitting at our kitchen table with the windows open. Next door a tradesman was pouring a concrete driveway for our neighbors. His kids were with him, playing with a hose around the corner of the house. You know what happened — water spewed on the wet cement when the kids accidentally diverted it. That didn’t sit well with their dad — at all. …
I struggle with people’s occasional (?) weirdness. Weirdness defined as not thinking the way I think, which is of course the right and only way. I feel hurt, confused and “What?” “Oh,” “Okay,” and “WhatEVER” about it. Makes me not want to be vulnerable and offer my something to be rejected. Makes me want to sit in my house in a butt-pocketed, well-worn La-Z-Boy with the same exact routine which does not involve getting involved. Makes me not want to give back, give out, give away. Makes me want to give up.…
Years ago, about ten rows back in the auditorium a tearful mom talked to me after a school presentation on the dangers of alcohol and other drugs. “I don’t do anything that matters,” she said. “I’m so consumed with my son’s drug problem.” I could relate to the moon and back having felt that way to be sure. It gave new perspective to hear her say it out loud. What she does matters — she loves someone.…
I heard it was good, so upon request my friend, Carol, sent to me a talk she gave at a group event. I think I’ve shared this piece on letting go but some things need to be our home screen and for me, this is one of them.…