A garden transforming from dormancy through renewal, growth, flowering, and fruitfulness is nothing short of a miracle. The unique shapes, colors, and time tables for each specific plant’s growth and blossoming add to this amazing progression…And garden pots remind me of Christ’s first recorded miracle. Meeting the urgent need of an emerging wedding feast’s beverageContinue reading “Miracles”
Tag Archives: freedom
The Greatest Freedom
On July 4th, 2026, the United States celebrated 250 years of independence from foreign tyranny. Since then, our nation has grown from 13 to 50 stars in our flag and has become a land of immense opportunity and a strong economic and military world power. We celebrate with full hearts as we stand on theContinue reading “The Greatest Freedom”
A New Year’s Thought from Arlington
Beginning a new year is a great time to consider how we view the world, what is central and meaningful to a purposeful life, and how we can live significantly in that dash between our birth date and death. Here in Arlington lie ordinary women and men, many only boys. They honorably served their country,Continue reading “A New Year’s Thought from Arlington”
The Untangling
There are times when we find ourselves all tangled up “in the weeds” of emotionally or spiritually unhealthy “things.” We may struggle with unsatisfying lifestyles or disappointment and emptiness because relationships, achievements, and pleasures fail to sustain our emotional and spiritual needs. It is even possible to be achieving our potential but left wondering whetherContinue reading “The Untangling”
Peace at All Cost
Remember the Peaceniks, a term coined in the early 60’s for pacifists who by reasons of conscience actively opposed military interventions or war? Unfortunately, after centuries of philosophical, religious, and political convictions and protestations about the evils of war, achieving peace still requires courageous action and sacrifice. It will always be costly, tentative, and oftenContinue reading “Peace at All Cost”
Thanksgiving
The anxiety and folly of trusting fallible men and women have been very evident during our recent election. Our country remains strongly divided over social, moral, and economic values, and mistrust has led to wide spread disappointment and even despair. However, Isaac Watts redirects us to an encouraging truth. He pulls us back to theContinue reading “Thanksgiving”
Freedom Rings
Nestled in the picturesque Machias valley lies this historic New England village. The Church in this photo played a role in a Revolutionary War naval battle during which local patriots captured a British ship, the Margaretta, took it up Middle River, (foreground) and scuttled it. New England villages are steeped with the history and ambianceContinue reading “Freedom Rings”
flight or fight
Perceiving a threat, these spooked wood ducks noisily retreated to a more isolated, protected area down the river. Wired physically, physiologically, and emotionally to either flee or confront threats against bodily harm, we react similarly to difficult circumstances or to spiritual and emotional insults which might endanger our peace and joy or rob us ofContinue reading “flight or fight”
From Sea to Shining Sea
The grand, final stanza of America the Beautiful will echo across the majestic “purple mountains” and fruited plains” of our country this Fourth of July: O beautiful for patriot dream/ That sees beyond the yearsThine alabaster cities gleam/ Undimmed by human tears.America! America!/ God shed His grace on thee,And crown thy good with brotherhood/ FromContinue reading “From Sea to Shining Sea”
all shepherds we…
Like the shepherds, we … anxious, waiting, wrapped in Bethlehem’s darkness listening for circling wolves… unseen, lurking, howling, threatening, fearsome, snarling… imagined phantoms of loss, impossibilities, hurt, grief, shame terrifying death… Like the shepherds we… Waiting, Waiting, Waiting… for the dawn. Have we not heard the angel? Fear not! Immanuel! God is here! A SaviorContinue reading “all shepherds we…”
Sweet Words from Maine 