Upset and Hurt

“Jesus said, ‘Didn’t you know that I had to be dealing with the things of my Father?’ But his parents were not impressed; they were upset and hurt” (Luke 2:51, The Message). I see myself in this story, but unfortunately, I’m not the one listening for the Father’s words. I’m the one upset and hurt.  Jesus should have understood both …

Reflections on 2023

Personal journal entry, January 3rd, 2023: “Solivitur Ambulando — A Latin phrase often attributed to Saint Augustine meaning, ‘It is solved by walking.’” I had forgotten about my first scribbled words at the beginning of the year, but as I reread them, I realized their significance. My recent journey around the sun was all about “walking out” truth and laying …

Prayer from the Shadows

O Jesus, Thank You that our relationship deepens as You and I walk through shadows together. Ours is no longer a simple stroll along a grassy riverbank but a fusion of spirit and soul. H.D.M. Spence once testified, “Divine shepherding means more than green pastures and still waters; it sometimes means ‘the valley of the shadow of death.’” During our …