The recent tragedy in Charleston has touched the heart of this nation. So has the response of the church. President Barack Obama called it “an expression of faith that is unimaginable but that reflects the goodness of the American people.” It reflects the goodness of a people who live close to and serve a good God. It is not something anyone could do on their own strength. That is why the world will never understand it. What a witness! They will see, like Joseph in the Old Testament, how something the devil means for evil can bring about good. I am amazed and heartened and encouraged at their strength. We must all pray for these people. Pray that the God they serve will bring revival to our hearts.

To the people of Emmanuel African Methodist Church…I am saddened for your loss, but you and those who died are giving our nation a great gift. Thank you. Thank you for showing us the grace of God.

A patient recently told be that “nobody trusts anybody anymore.” I am inclined to agree with that to a point. Perhaps that is the reason that so many of us are being tracked. Let me explain…I am not talking about the tracking that goes on when you purchase something or look something up on the internet. That is another problem altogether. I am concerned about the tracking of so many professionals as they try to do their job. Tracking teachers. Tracking UPS drivers. Tracking physicians. That last one I know a lot about. Everyone is tracking us. Drug reps know if we prescribe their drugs. Insurance companies know how many and what kind of tests we order. (Some we don’t order because they don’t let us) Hospitals know how many of our patients are admitted. Our electronic medical records can tell how many diabetic patients we have and what their sugar runs. They cannot yet tell you how well these same patients follow directions, but that will come soon… they are tracking patients also. And calling their homes. All because they care, of course.

All of this tracking is to improve things. Perhaps there is someone somewhere who does a better job because of it? I doubt it! Mostly, it just discourages those of us who really do care and are really trying to do a good job!

A good walk can change your mood! The smell of honeysuckle. The melody of birds, especially in the early morning which is my favorite time to stride. There is something about the beauty of nature that enlarges and calms one’s thoughts. I often find myself thanking God for the gorgeous side of life. I love the vast expanses of green below and blue above. Why do people want to move away from this? I have lived in a large city before but now I reside outside a small town in a rural area. In a big city you don’t miss this scenery as much as you just forget about it. You get used to cement and blocked skies. It can be exciting and I will take a large city for a weekend of fun. But for day in and day out living, I think I prefer more space. I know it is true that tall buildings can inspire…………………. but for me, I am inspired by green and blue!

I confess to being a bit of a news junkie. I love to listen to what is going on in the world. But what is going on lately makes me shudder for the welfare of my country. I love my country. I would like everyone to love my county, especially my fellow citizens who live here. The citizens of Ferguson. The citizens of Baltimore. The citizens of my home town.We have problems. Poverty, lack of education, family breakdown, disenfranchisement, racial tension, even maybe instances of police brutality……they all are on display. But as NFL New Orleans Saint, Benjamin Watson, says “they are smoke, but the underlying fire is something that we all have to deal with and that’s our sin.” If we are looking for root causes, we need to start there. There is a little of Ferguson and Baltimore in all of our lives. None of us treat others as we should. None of us give as much as we could. None of care as much as we ought. But realizing that is a start. Benjamin Watson says that it is “only through a relationship with Jesus Christ that we can really deal with these situations and deal with our problem and then we can move forward and have reconciliation.” Music to the ear…and from an NFL player!! Maybe I will watch a little less news and a little more football!

I recently watched. “Woman in Gold” and loved it!  I love learning history with popcorn and a big screen.  This time the history was sad.  My first awareness of the Nazi’s theft of valuable art  came in another theater showing “The Monuments Men” last year.  Woman in Gold taught me a little more.  It was great entertainment…but it is   disconcerting to hear that governments and museums fight to keep heirs from reclaiming masterpieces stolen from their families.  I am glad that the “Portrait of Adele Bloch-Bauer I” was finally returned and hope someday to see it in it’s current home, the Neue Galerie, in New York.

Hi there and welcome. Grab your coffee and let’s chat. I want this to be a place where life slows just a little. The world is a beautiful, dangerous, fast place. Here, I hope to slow the pace and let thoughts settle….condense. To consider – like the still water that is deep under the fast currents. That is where life really thrives. When I slow down, I notice things. Ordinary things. Beautiful things. Momentous and important things. Like the fact that the woodpecker who has been putting holes in my house is so BEAUTIFUL that is is almost worth the holes (almost). Or the fact that some birds can be bullies! And some can hang upside down to eat. I think I could sit and watch the birds for hours…..and learn a lot.