"Softy and Tenderly"

11 August 2026: Praying for her heavenly homecoming and so many joyful reunions.

Comfort

3 August 2026:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am." John 14: 1-3. 

"in the midst of human stories, God reveals himself"

30 June 2026: Quite moved by Pope Leo's comments here.

"Leo also explained that writing, as a human exercise, ultimately leads to God.

'When we delve into the very depths of our humanity, we are not far from God; for there, in the midst of very human stories, God reveals himself,' Leo said."

That's it, right? That's the beauty and power and the point of it all. 

Psalm 147:3-4

6 April 2026: 

Praying for healing for a loved one tonight...

"He heals the brokenhearted 

    and binds up their wounds.

He determines the number of the stars

    and calls them each by name."

2 Corinthians 1:3-4

18 March 2026: 

"Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God." 

"I Was There to Hear Your Borning Cry"

3 March 2026: 

   

This morning, I came across the program from my dad's funeral services. My eyes went to the lyrics for this hymn, which we sang at the end. I can remember those moments so clearly, feeling comfort on his behalf--the Lord had him now--and incredible sadness for us, who didn't have him anymore.

This morning, I once again found myself crying at both its reassuring beauty and the ache that remains in his absence.

Crying again hours later, typing this, thinking about yet another funeral this weekend, this one for Troy.

So much in the world is (still) so very hard. I mean, my God, another war? 

The Lord is here for us, though, and has been since the beginning.

Christmas 2025

25 December 2025:

[Catch-up post...]

Muddled through somehow, as the song goes. Presents with my mom, church, a visit to the cemetery where Ryan is, a long, cold, windy walk (the only kind they are offering on LI these days, I guess), dinner at Tara's, Legos with Evan, then back to Palm Road for the Call the Midwife holiday episode. 

Christmas Eve 2025

24 December 2025: Long day filled with highs and lows and lots of big thoughts and feelings. Finding comfort and reassurance in these words...

Isaiah 9:6: "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given, and the government will be on his shoulders. And he will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace."

Humming the old hymn...

18 July 2025: Praying for a friend tonight whose mother is facing a medical challenge. Just another situation when all you can do is try to be there for your friend and support her and pray, pray, pray. Trying to remind myself of the strange comfort being able to "take it to the Lord in prayer." 

3:00 bells...

18 April 2025: It's been a strange, long, and at times very hard week (filled, too, with moments of joy and satisfaction). 

Sitting here working with a student this afternoon, I noticed a church bell that kept ringing and ringing. Then I realized it was 3:00, the time of Jesus's death in the Bible. The bells mark that profoundly sacred moment.

The realization--the holy interruption--threw me off for a moment, but in a blessed way. The pain of Good Friday points to the light and healing of Easter. But we must stop, acknowledge, and some how gesture at imagining that pain and loss. The bells made me do that and continue to do so right now, hours after they stopped. 

"Love (III)"

9 January 2024: Found myself tearing up listening to a reading of George Herbert's "Love (III)" this morning. I've been such a fan of Herbert ever since I first read him, but I don't think I've thought about this poem in years. But this morning, as I drove to an appointment, filled with anxiety and so tired already, it moved me more profoundly than ever before. "You must sit," God tells us. He loves us. That is enough.

(Grateful for the magnificant In Our Time podcast for this moment of grace.)

"Do not be afraid"

17 December 2024: "And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.'" Luke 2: 8-12.

Thinking this afternoon about the words of the angel: comfort and joy delivered amidst fear and awe to men who must have felt so overwhelmed: "Do not be afraid."

Amen. 

Light at the end of the day...

11 November 2024: Today was rough. Long and complicated and stressful. A lot of my students are in bad places. At one point, I kind of broke down, overwhelmed and feeling worried about them. 

Right as I was packing up to go home at about 6:30, a former student who I am so fond of appeared in my office door. He's been dealing with a very serious cancer diagnosis for years. He told me had just gotten some results: his first "cancer free" scan. As it all sunk in, I hugged him twice, overcome with the unexpected good news. My eyes filled with tears again. I thanked him again and again for giving me this lovely news.

Everything is still really hard and bad, but once again, the Lord sends some joy and light. Walking to my car, I looked up and said, "Thank you." 

John 14:27

13 July 2024: "Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid." 

Troubled heart tonight as dark news plays across the TV, but praying, praying, praying for peace.

Women Talking

5 November 2023: “Doubt and uncertainty and questioning are inextricably bound together with faith.” --Miriam Toews, Women Talking

This morning, I pulled into my driveway at just the moment that the audiobook of this tremendous novel concluded--with a chorus of women singing "Just a Closer Walk With Thee." Sat there in my car, listening as tears filled my eyes. This one will stay with me for a long time. 

1402 good things...

25 October 2023: 1402 good things...

1400 straight days of 10K+ steps, which really is something. 

1 former student/current Shepherd employee who I am very fond of, telling me she prayed for me last night. I almost wept right there in the hallway.

1 current student who used the phrase "thunderstorms and fireflies" in place of "apples and oranges" and I just thought that was the most wonderful thing. "That's your Appalachain showing, my friend!" I told him.

"Just because" flowers...

27 September 2023: Moved practically to tears this morning when two students brought by these flowers and this card--just because. Can't say how much it means to me and how much I needed it (more than I realized). 

The Lord provides...

Mrs. Morgan

7 June 2023: Attended a funeral service for a friend/colleague's mom today and found myself quietly overwhelmed emotionally: a life well-lived, so much love, so many loved ones, and a path shaped by love and faith. 

"he who watches over you will not slumber..."

3 May 2023: 

"I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from?

My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.

He will not let your foot slip— he who watches over you will not slumber;

indeed, he who watches over Israel will neither slumber nor sleep.

The LORD watches over you— the LORD is your shade at your right hand;

the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.

The LORD will keep you from all harm— he will watch over your life;

the LORD will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore." -Psalm 121

Lifting up a loved one in prayer, asking God to take care of her and help her find her way.

"Here I Am, Lord"

25 April 2023: Working on the department newsletter in my office, with Youtube just playing music in the background. This song came up and I found myself singing along and getting a bit teary. This song has always meant so much to me, and to hear it again in this moment gave my soul a bit of restoration. The sweet comfort and assurance that we are seen, called, lead, and loved--and called upon to love others.