When The Pond Woke Up
When I was a boy, there were places that looked empty most of the year. Dry ponds. Cracked dirt. Low spots in the field that held nothing but dust, weeds, and the memory of water. You could walk past them and think there was nothing there worth noticing.…
A Letter to My Siblings: The Old Coat in the Trunk
Dear brothers and sisters, I have been thinking about an old song “O Death.” It has that ancient Holler sound similar to that I grew up with. It is thought to have been written in and around 1902-1910 attributed to Baptist Minister Lloyd Chandler. But…
Pick Up More Than the Fork
There are days when I look at what passes for news and wonder if the whole world needs to pull over, shut the engine off, and let the smoke clear. Not real news. I can handle real news, but this? No. I shut whatever this is off. Tell me where war is…
Just Another Day
If it can be messed up, I will manage to do it. I do not say that as a complaint. At this point in life, it is almost a skill set. Some people have hobbies, whereas I have field experience in things going sideways. This morning started early. Not noble…
Martha, Mary, and the Sound of One Woman Doing All the Dishes
There are some Bible stories that feel far away until you put them in a kitchen. Then suddenly they are not far away at all. Luke 10:38-42 tells us about two sisters, Martha and Mary. Jesus came into their village, and Martha welcomed Him into her house.…
Do It Twice
Exercise sounds too official sometimes. It shows up wearing new shoes, carrying a clipboard, and acting like everybody has a gym membership, spare time, perfect knees, and a motivational poster taped to the refrigerator. That is not real life for a lot…
Brax the Badhealth Slayer and the Branding Goat of Doom
Every now and then, a man sets out to write a simple health article and accidentally opens a portal in the front yard. Out comes the Branding Goat of Doom. He is not subtle and does not whisper. He arrives with labels, slogans, miracle claims, shiny…
Stay Useful: Why Moving Still Matters
There is a funny thing that happens as we age. At some point, movement starts getting treated like an extra. Something for people with matching shoes, gym memberships, expensive water bottles, and enough free time to count their steps like they are…
Grace To You and Peace From God
Last Wednesday, our minister asked if anyone had ever counted how many times Paul opened his letters with the blessing or said, “Grace to you and peace from God.” I had not counted them either. (For the record I count 13.) But the question stuck to me…
Canning, Common Sense, and Not Gambling with Supper
When I first started thinking about why I can food, the easy answers showed up first It is thrifty, and yes, it can save money. It also allows you to put food away when prices are good, the garden is bursting with bounty, or somebody hands you a box of…