Brick by Brick: Rebuilding the Broken

How many times have you read the Christmas story and because it is such a familiar scenario that you mentally skip over the vast importance of understanding the role of Joseph?  A couple of years ago, I explored the story of Mary and how much I can relate to her since the death of our son Nathanael. How she was given the immense task of carrying the Savior of the world,  and came to love Him as He grew, only to see Him suffer and die. Yes, she also saw Him rise again. But that doesn't take away the pain and agony beforehand.  Yet she had HOPE. And I carry that Hope every day, grasping tightly as if my life depends upon it. Because it really does.  There are so many stories and songs about Mary, as if she was the only person taking care of the Son of God.  Here we see a family,  not just a young maiden who took on the responsibility for the little Lord Jesus. But even the Bible doesn't focus much on the stepfather and his role throughout the life of Jesus. He seems t

There are many things we can learn simply by observing life and others. Sometimes we must have a little nudge in the right direction or even a guide to navigating this treacherous world. Some things we simply miss in the ever-revolving door of life, but then there are the deep and mysterious truths that some of us may not know how to carry on our own. Being one of those who if I am pointed in the right direction I can generally find my way until the road gets much too hard to travel with my little handbag of knowledge. But when the signposts become all too frequent and cobbled and broken and sirens blare and voices become a buzzing roar of confusion and distress, we all need a helping hand to reach out and lead us through the thickets. Dealing with trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, loss, and physical health issues can be daunting any day of the year. But then the holidays roll around and it becomes a mighty task indeed. Even those closest to you, who may be dealing with the same thin

But it was just dirt!  How many times as a parent, have we yelled at our little ones - "Stay off the floor, I just mopped!"  And how many times has the logical child retorted back - "It's just dirt, mom."  We live in a sterile environment nowadays, and dirt is the last thing we want to see anywhere, on any surface. We spend so much time, dollars, and energy, ridding our lives of dirt. Filth. Germs. Crumbs. Sticky little hands. And yet it always comes back.  Remember when you were little, and perhaps made "mudpies"? Or built a sandcastle? Or even just splashed in the mud puddles for fun?  I'm not asking you to go out and wriggle your toes in the slimy green cesspool, but hear me out… dirt isn't so bad.  Come to think of it, dirt is pretty special in God's eyes. Where do you come from, after all? (see Genesis 2:7 if you need a little help here)  Jesus, himself, uses dirt in a few of His miracles, too!  Remember how He stooped to the ground a

  What is the first thought that comes to mind when you hear that phrase? To some, "in over our heads" might conjure images of a project you once dealt with and regretted being a part of; others may not be able to relate to this because there's nothing too big for you to conquer - well, then, this story may not hold much interest. But feel free to stick around, because you never know, you just might learn something new. Those who understand what it feels like to be "in over our heads", may appreciate this more than most. Have you ever lost something? Have you ever struggled to find an answer to a nagging question? Have ever been brokenhearted? Have you ever had a lingering feeling of doubt, fear, anxiety, or regret? Perhaps that is why you are reading this today. Let me tell you a little bit about being under the weight of it all. As a toddler, I seemed to get into quite a few predicaments. We would visit our relatives far across the states, where everything was

  The beloved cartoon series "Peanuts" has an endearing Christmas special, that many have loved to watch and re-watch as a yearly tradition. When I was young, I simply enjoyed seeing a favorite comic strip come to life. As years passed, it became a a new tradition to share with our wee children. Looking back as a finely aged adult now, (no laughing) I appreciate the beautiful speech given by Linus as he puts the craziness of his friends' party/theatrical rendition into better perspective. His intro, "Lights, Please..." sets the stage for listeners to sit still and pay close attention. I have never been one to enjoy "all eyes on me". Known to most people as the shy one, I have changed considerably since youth. Some might even be amazed at the progress, but you can never truly change a leopard's spots. To reach clear outside of my comfort zone and be writing to you today is proof of that.  My voice may be small, my answers might not look like much, b

If you have glasses, you know how hard it is to wear sunglasses. Nathanael loved wearing sunglasses all the time. It became his trademark. My son, Nathanael had perfect vision. He was proud of the fact that he could see things far ahead, that those of us with glasses struggled to make out on the horizon. He could even drive at night (much to my disapproval) wearing sunglasses. He also had the uncanny insight to see things in people that most of us never take the time to notice. Part of what made him such a kindhearted soul.

  One of my favorite authors has a way of telling stories that make you think. His skill is crafted in such a way that you may not even realize that you are gaining perspective.   But then again, a close friend of C. S. Lewis thought he made his stories   too transparent. J. R. R. Tolkien was a craftsman of his own entire Middle Earth, and took an elaborate approach to the art of telling stories. His intentions were not the same as Lewis', yet in their separate styles, they endure as great ways to make the reader beg for more!   My story today is from the lovely land of Narnia. A place that many children, long to see for themselves. If you are honest, a place that calls to you as an adult.  As Lewis himself said, "But some day you will be old enough to start reading fairy tales again. You can then take it down from some upper shelf, dust it, and tell me what you think of it."   The land of Narnia calls to me frequently, as I was v

  “I love the part in fairy tales That's very near the end When all the kingdom cheers for this new queen; And all is well and all is good And everyone belongs, And happily they're ever-aftering. But when I enter the kingdom of dreams And face the promise of all I can be Will they see me as a heroine?  Tell me, will they let me in?” From the Artist: Kurt Bestor Album: Rigoletto   from the 1993 movie, an adaptation of the opera You must admit, most of us have believed in fairytales at one point in our childhood.   Some of the stories may have been terrifying, and others full of nonsense, and yet we loved to hear them over and over. The storybook bedtime ritual has been a staple for generations. Whether it was from a book or an oral recitation, a make-believe land or historic re-telling, the familiarity of traveling to places unknown before falling asleep was cathartic, relaxing the mind as it swept away the cares of our busy day. Fast forward to a