PREFACE: In 2004 as I watched the movie The Passion of the Christ, I experienced a visceral reaction to the scene when Jesus commanded Peter to put his sword down. It felt like my breath had been knocked out of me; I wanted to scream. When the guards came for Jesus, I had almost jumped …
Most people I know, including myself until about thirty years ago, interpret what Jesus is saying in Matthew 5:48, in this way: “I want you to be flawless . . . pure.” With that interpretation embedded into our minds, we are stuck in the relentless never-ending cycle of striving for perfection in everything we say, …
Reality isn’t always easy to face. But I’ve discovered that it beats the illusion of the glass half-empty, half-full approach to life! FACE reality instead of escaping into the illusion of “Life sucks and it always will (glass half-empty);” – or – “See no evil; hear no evil (glass half-full).” FEEL reality: happy, sad, angry, …
Years ago, when Phil and I along with our two kids camped with three of my four sibs and their kids, a thunderstorm came through the area during the first night. In the morning we assessed the damage. Our tent’s floor had at least an inch of water covering it; our clothes were saturated. Some …
Whenever we perceive ourselves (and/or others) as anything less than a marvelous, beautiful work of art – a masterpiece – that perception is a deception. “I (you, they) am worthless!”“I (you, they) am despicable, a disgrace.“I (you, they) am a failure.” Has shame deceived you? Whenever we live in shame, it is impossible to perceive …
Read more “Is shame deceiving you? Remember: You are clean!”
While I don’t believe for one minute that pain is gain, I do perceive pain as gift: Pain warns us that we’re either heading toward going outside of our design – or – that we’re already out of it physically, spiritually, mentally and/or emotionally! We need to listen to our body when it’s letting us …
a break up a death loss of employment; loss of financial security a diagnosis of a mental health or physical problem a rape facing the reality of having an addition “A dark night of the soul is not extraordinary or rare. It is a natural part of life, and you can gain as much from …
I have often forgotten who I am: a magnificent masterpiece created by God. When I forget that, I believe that I am my unloving behaviors, words and thoughts. When I believe that lie, I believe I am worthless, unloveable and despicable. More than once in our 41 years of marriage when I have believed those …
I understand the desire to find out what the person or group who has betrayed me is up to. I get it! And, when I’ve let that desire control my actions, I’ve suffered greatly, mainly because I discover via social media and via other methods of stalking, that they are happy! How can that be?! …
Here it is March 22. Beautiful day, today. Spring is around the corner. I’m thinking about why I’m surprised that it snowed last week here in the Midwest. Why am I surprised? We life-long mid-westerners know that event planning can be very difficult. Those that predict the weather do the best they can to let …