Nothing compares to springtime in North Florida. We had the chance to go back to our hometown for a quick visit then, and the timing could not have been more perfect. It seemed as if all the trees and flowers were in full bloom. One tree, in particular, caught my attention—the dogwood. Dogwoods are beautiful…
I’m not what most bystanders would call a thrill seeker—especially when it comes to crazy high speeds, heights that make gravity a real threat, and the potential for an entirely avoidable early death. I’m not proud of this final lack of bravery, but the possibility of acute embarrassment factors in too. Envisioning a leap from…
Exodus 2 is a very familiar story to most of us. The origin of Moses; raised by an Egyptian princess with his own mother serving as his wet nurse. Raised in the palace, for want of nothing, never knowing hunger or thirst or hardship. But always knowing that he didn’t belong. It’s a story I…
“Take chances, make mistakes. That’s how you grow. Pain nourishes your courage. You have to fail in order to practice being brave.” ~Mary Tyler Moore I have learned about the beauty, power, and bravery of failure from my daughters and their theater friends. Both of my girls are actresses. As part of their college…
Do you dream big dreams about making a difference in the world? Maybe you see yourself behind a podium delivering a message that makes a crowd laugh, cry, and run to Jesus. Your dream may involve bandaging wounds or ladling soup for the sick and hungry in a developing country. You may quietly hope your pastor…
It turns out there are no shortcuts to get the job done. Even now as I sit at my keyboard, struggling to put my thoughts into words, I yearn for the Easy Button made famous by Staples ads. I am looking for a formula, a blueprint, or the ubiquitous “five easy steps to success.” I…