Our English word for peace holds meaning for more than one type of peace. Peace can refer to inner peace, tranquility, or outer peace, a state in which no war exists. The Hebrew word for peace, Shalom, refers to the appearance of calm and tranquility. In Greek, the word for peace Eirenen means unity and…
Mary, a young girl, was likely in the throws of planning her wedding, anticipating her future, when her life was interrupted. Having a baby out of wedlock could easily have left her feeling hopeless. Yet, when faced with the unexpected, Mary did not appear to lose hope. Instead, she responded to the angel, “Let it…
We are well-connected and yet lonely people. I have read several variations of similar statements noting that while we are the most connected people, we are also some of the loneliest people. This statement feels like a conflict; connected people should not be lonely. My brain hears the word connection and associates it with words…
I’ve been wrestling with comfort, defining and understanding a healthy approach to comfort. Google comfort, and you are likely to find quotes and articles about stepping out of your comfort zone in order to achieve greatness. Article after article will tell you that living in your comfort zone keeps you in a mental state that…
The word creative was not a word I ever considered when identifying myself. I am not spontaneous or easygoing, a talented artist, a musician, or a poet. Instead, I am structured, a planner, and an organizer of people and things. Yes, I had preconceived notions of what it looked like to be a creative person….
The other day I was thinking about how nice it would be if we could flip a switch to change the season. One moment it would be clearly all things summer, summer schedules, summer weather, and then when it was time for fall, we could flip a switch. And with the flip of a button,…
