Christmas Light

A Light in the Storm, Prospect Harbor, Maine Christmas is a season of lights. Flickering candles brighten darkened windows and warm mantels. Artificial lights decorate trees and yards and parks with colorful displays. Brilliantly lit stars are everywhere. The world seems warmer, kinder, and brighter as goodwill, generosity, and cheerful expressions of love reflect theContinue reading “Christmas Light”

Joy All the Time?

Sunset, Sorrento, Maine, We all experience brief times when words cannot do justice to what we internally experience. A breathtaking mountain summit vista, the monotonous crashing of surf, a whip-o-will’s twilight call, a warm fire shared with a friend or book, a beautiful symphony, the weird laughter of loons echoing through a still, dark night,Continue reading “Joy All the Time?”

Whose Footprints?

This is the time of year in Maine when one is more likely to see footprints in the snow rather than in the sand. However, any footprint is a reminder of Henry W. Longfellow’s words: “ We can make our lives sublime/ And, departing, leave behind us/Footprints on the sands of time.” (from A PsalmContinue reading “Whose Footprints?”

Thankful in All Things? Really?

Fog Bank and Breaking Sun, Sullivan, Maine Sometimes it is difficult to be thankful. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes we become battered, beaten down, and immobilized. Sometimes the way ahead becomes too heavy, dark, and obscured by uncertainties, difficulties. impossibilities, disappointments, fear, or grief. Sometimes we are enshrouded and overwhelmed with despair. Yet, God promisesContinue reading “Thankful in All Things? Really?”

Be Thankful in All Circumstances? Really?

Sometimes it is difficult to be thankful. Life isn’t always easy. Sometimes we become battered, beaten down, and immobilized. Sometimes the way ahead becomes too heavy, dark, and obscured by uncertainties, difficulties. impossibilities, disappointments, fear, or grief. Sometimes we are enshrouded and overwhelmed with despair. Yet, God promises hope and strength in our despair andContinue reading “Be Thankful in All Circumstances? Really?”

Whose Pleasure?

Hidden behind these beautiful mountains ranges, expansive heavens, flowing rivers, color filled, forested valleys, and rolling hills lie ages of unraveled mysteries which challenge us to consider the unique design of our planet and how this vast universe transcends understanding while hinting that it is the place where we have always belonged. Scripture’s statements aboutContinue reading “Whose Pleasure?”

Living in Awe

…‘Let us live in awe of the Lord our God, for he gives us rain each spring and fall, assuring us of a harvest when the time is right.’ Jeremiah 5:24 With advanced farming methods, techniques, and technologies, we have figured out ways to assist God with crop production. So, it is easy to missContinue reading “Living in Awe”

Good Beginnings…Good Endings…

Whether it is the dawning of a new day or the emergence of a beautiful, new life, a good beginning may increase the chance for a full, meaningful day or purposeful life but does not guarantee either. One fragile moment or one wrong step may change the trajectory of life forever. Country music star RoyContinue reading “Good Beginnings…Good Endings…”

An Oasis of Words

Words are important and powerful. They may be a sword or a lullaby depending upon the user’s intention or whim. Strung together, words create stories, poems, lyrics and conversations. They can break hearts or cheer souls. Used wisely, they may encourage and refresh needy spirits and nurture good character. Contemptuous or gossipy words diminish andContinue reading “An Oasis of Words”

According to the Puffins….

Even little birds can give us lofty thoughts. To some, puffins simply raise questions about genetics and adaptive mutations and behaviors. But in the larger context, these little birds are but one of creation’s vast array of variations and adaptations which not only challenge imaginations and serious scientific investigations but also philosophic explanations about meaningContinue reading “According to the Puffins….”