By: Kandy Persall From outward appearances, the terra cotta lump is merely a bulk of clay. Indeed the pliable mud is no better than any other, consisting only of sand, silt, water, and finely crushed minerals. This ordinary adobe bears the destiny of becoming another piece of unremarkable pottery. The only difference lies in the hand of the potter. If the artisan is skilled …
I tumbled off the school bus with a satchel full of childhood woes. An imperfect score, a classroom bully, and a lost jacket weighed heavily on my mind. In my nine years, this day had possibly been the worst. I needed my mother. Trudging onto the back porch, I swung the screen door open and my satchel to the floor. The …
We do not need anyone to tell us our need for renewal. We can read it in the news and hear it in the heart of the hurting. We cry out for change and seek the headlines for signs of hope. We hold meetings and form action groups. Yet societal transformation must begin with personal awakening. Mass renewal starts in …
I remember the cold, dark room and my yearning for the warmth of day. Black-out paper covered the doorway next to me, protecting the space against an inevitable dawn. I sat motionless in a midnight as black as pitch. I dreamt, but it felt very real. Although my surroundings offered no hope, my heart remained calm. Fear lurked in the shadows and whispered …
Imagination was my childhood sanctuary on those rural drives. With just a little inspiration from the passing Texas landscape, I could fabricate life-like figures from the pages of my mind. I envisioned fanciful deer leaping through rows of cotton upon a summer windshield. In October, I invented a window-wide audition of tiny raindrops, each showcasing their best to dance with …
Standing at the window watching the downpour, I realize why I love rain so much. The sound of thunder and lightning always reminds me of my mother. As a dry land farmer’s daughter from West Texas, we always asked God for “moisture” in our family. My mother wasn’t particularly specific about how it should come. Mist counted, and the fog …
I may be the worst cook in my bloodline, but it’s not because of the lack of aprons. The womenfolk of my people believe in them religiously. Every sepia picture from our past is proof of this conviction. My grandmother wore an apron for her granddaughter’s birthday photo, and my great-grandmother had one in her hand in the only surviving …
By: Shea Politte Last fall, after a big freeze, there were more birds than ever all over our front yard. After the temps dropped drastically the week before, my pretty fall pumpkins got soft and mushy. I was headed out of town, so I asked my boys to trash the pumpkins while I was gone. They strategically dropped one pumpkin …
O Father, I come, not knowing how to pray but depending upon Your faithfulness to discern my ramblings. You knew that I would find myself faltering and stammering. So, You sent Your Spirit into my heart to resurrect my lifeless petitions and lift them on my behalf into Your Presence (Romans 8:26-27). Thank You. Because of virtual and unsupervised education, …
“May I set the topic today?” Here between the morning light and my first cup of coffee, the Spirit arrested me and gave me pause. “You know I love to hear your heart,” He continued. “Your highs and lows, your hopes and anxieties. But We have covered this particular ground already, haven’t we? We’ve talked about these fears extensively over …
