Autumn finds many of us removing dead plants from gardens and preparing homes and yards in anticipation of the coming winter months. Some plants require pruning—the process of removing dead branches and stubs—which promotes beneficial rest for the plant while allowing room for new growth next season. Pruning also deters pest infestation while supporting a plant’s natural shape and healthy growth. Recently I was reminded of the importance of personal “pruning”. On an episode of a weekly podcast I enjoy, one of the co-hosts shared his experience of a complete mental breakdown. It triggered the realization that he had taken…
As we busily move through our days—and especially when things are going well—it’s easy to leave God on the back burner. So often, it’s when the burdens of life become overwhelming, or too tough to handle on our own, that we cry out to Him. And although in His graciousness and goodness He hears us any time, God never intended that we navigate through life alone. In Christ, by way of the Holy Spirit, He’s given us a helper, a comforter, a companion and friend to walk with us through the peaks and valleys of our journey. When the stresses…
Did you know statistics reveal that 75-90% of all doctor visits are for stress-related illnesses? The pressures of life are constantly bearing down on us. We all face needs that can result in anxieties about our health, finances, safety, relationships, the future. While people try many things to bring peace to their lives, Jesus’ words in John 14:27 remain: “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.” The peace of Christ is something we must invest in daily through…
Several years ago, a figure skating coach I know decided—after 20 years of teaching—he would start training to compete again. That winter, every time I was at the rink, I watched him practice. He pushed himself to train, every single day, for months on end. Finally, the big day came. He travelled halfway across the country to compete against other highly accomplished adult skaters at Nationals. But soon after arriving, he experienced a crushing blow. His back gave out, and he spent the entire event in pain, watching from the stands as a spectator. In hindsight, he realized he had over-trained,…
It’s called the City that never sleeps—New York! My son recently survived his first month living there. And while he initially enjoyed the excitement and ease of stepping out of his apartment to explore coffee shops, delis, even the public library—after a few weeks he realized there was no quiet—ever! Any hour of the day or night the endless drone of traffic, trucks rumbling, barrels crashing, sirens blaring, people talking . . . goes on . . . and on . . . and on . . . The world teaches us to live like the city, doesn’t it? Always…
