My mistake
I generally consider myself a forgiving and “nice” person, but I had an experience in my sophomore year that tested my ability to forgive. My classmate Matt and I were pa... »
Personal Accounts
Facing change and trimming trees
The tree trimmers finally showed up. I’d been nervously waiting for them, both looking forward to them pruning my trees and also terrified of what the outcome might be. I... »
The end of her part
Vanessa waved at me as the doors shut, and I watched the train whisk away a friendship of six years. Vanessa and I had met in junior high school, and our common interest... »
The gift of lack
Last year was a rough one. Not terrible, just trying. Our family faced lots of challenges regarding work, health, and finances, and I’ve been hoping that things will be e... »
Flirting with failure
As the sun was setting, I walked briskly toward the bus station after a tiring day at work. I knew from experience that the city bus didn’t come by that often, and I didn... »
Give change a bear hug
A friend of mine told me this bit of friendly advice in an effort to encourage me to welcome some new changes in my life. My wife and I had been living in the Middle East... »
My life. My choices. My future
You’ve probably heard some of these familiar sayings: The world is your oyster. There are no limits. The word impossible is not in my vocabulary. Never give up. If you ca... »
Looking goofy
A good friend of mine decided to take up tennis. She bought all the gear, scheduled her first lesson, and headed off to the tennis courts. When she got there, though, she... »
A friendship encounter
My day invariably begins with taking my jet-black poodle for her morning walk, an activity which is high on her list of priorities. We have a regular route which takes us... »
Getting to know Jesus
I grew up in a Christian family, but when I was a teenager, feeling overwhelmed over the world’s problems caused me to start doubting my faith. When I was 18, though, my... »
A climb that healed
“If we can climb this mountain, there’s nothing we can’t overcome together!” I remember my dad struggling to smile and look hopeful as he pointed toward a rocky mountain... »
The seasons of life
Our theatre group regularly performs a dynamic skit based on a monologue from the Shakespeare play As You Like It, where he summarizes the seasons of our lives in seven s... »
Pursuit of passions
I love working out, and I also love food! Cooking a great meal makes me incredibly fulfilled and happy, and I’ve often read cookbooks like they were novels. So, knowing h... »