It’s often said that for those of us who live in North Dakota, June is our reward for January. On our farm, June is perfection. The days are long and warm, and the evenings are cool. The landscape is green, growing, and lush, and our sheep and cows graze belly-deep in grasses and forbs. The…
It’s been weeks since Easter. As everyone else seems to be moving on from the empty tomb, I can’t stop thinking about his resurrection. I think about the disciples after his crucifixion. Three days to process the inconceivable loss of their leader, teacher, mentor, friend, brother. Did they try to comfort themselves with the same…
I wake early again and toss and turn in my bed for a while. I can tell it’s early morning because no sunlight is streaming in through our bedroom windows—and I am groggy. I try to fall back asleep, staying still in my warm bed with my husband lying quietly next to me, but it’s…
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. (Philippians 4:8 NIV) At the start of every year, we often spend time assessing the previous one. We make lists of everything we want to…
You may have seen the film The Greatest Showman. With its phenomenal music, raucous dancing, and Hugh Jackman, what’s not to like, right? (Okay, perhaps the fact that it’s not at all true to P. T. Barnum’s life can give us pause. But as a stand-alone, mostly fictional film, it’s pretty rad.) At one point…
When I was a teenager, I was a day-camp counselor one summer. I was one of the younger counselors, and I was so excited to lead a group of kids. When I received a review from my supervisor, however, it included the word bossy. I was appalled, followed quickly by ashamed. It was one of…