Crosland Stuart 
We are back from our July break or screen sabbatical! While there is no break from the steamy August heat, soon our roads will be filled with school buses, our Fall schedules will begin, and our summer will come to an end. The onset of Fall can have that new beginning feeling as we re-engage … Read more
“A reader lives a thousand lives before he dies . . .The man who never reads lives only one.” —George R.R. Martin
Today we are being bombarded by events that are numerous and matched only by their intensity. All are finding their ways into our lives and are having an impact upon us one way or another. Whether it is the invasion of Ukraine or rising inflation or the threats to our democracy or the failing physical health of our friends, loved ones, and our own immortality—of which I am reminded of daily with each ache and pain—our hearts and minds are on overload. Given all that we are managing, I thought it would be helpful to offer a myriad of article choices for today’s blog post. Below you will find four different articles that will provide insight into some of things that are weighing heavy on us.
When holiday celebrations correspond with our blog article publish date, we often take the opportunity to consider a piece of related music. Today when are going to continue that tradition and bask in the beauty and message of the 19th century English Christian hymn, “Lift High the Cross.”
There are times when lists are more impactful than even the most eloquent narrative. This is probably why lists as blog content are popular…you know, things like Top 5 Ways to Be More Efficient, 10 Ways to Improve Your Overall Health, Top 10 Universities of the Year, etc. I am not sure what the best title for this week’s blog post is, but “Astonishing Numbers” may be the most descriptive and it too falls into that category of lists.
About a year ago, we bought a home. It has a long driveway, stretching from the road to a garage on the back of the property. That’s a lot of concrete to clear when it snows here in Iowa. I had not prepared for the first snowfall, which brought several inches of thick, heavy snow. It took our family of seven several hours (and shovels) to clear the snow. But this morning, when we woke up to five inches of snow, I did not fear (throwing out my back again). I could laugh at the snowfall. Because I had purchased a snowblower fit for our drive.
Hit after hit after hit…they just seem to keep coming: Russia, inflation, covid, incivility and not to mention all the personal heart ache that we all experience. I must admit it is rather overwhelming right now.
On December 31, 2017, I started a new New Years tradition. I grab my journal, my Bible, a few pens or markers, and make myself cozy under a warm blanket. I skim my journal entries, think about the books of the Bible I read that year, recall the struggles and heartaches, and try to list the lessons learned.
Then, I wonder what themes from the past year God invites me to carry into the next. I choose a word to represent each theme, and I write the words on a sticky note.
Ecclesiastes 3 begins by saying, “For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven” (Eccles. 3:1, ESV). Every day is an opportunity to demonstrate the goodness of God to our colleagues, but the new year provides a great opportunity to refocus our efforts on sharing the goodness of God with our coworkers.
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