Words in every language evolve and change. A word used a few years ago can now have a different meaning or nuance, which sometimes raises challenges when writing or speaking. It brings to mind Eliza Doolittle’s line in the song “Show Me” from My Fair Lady, “Words, words, words, I’m so sick of words!” One word that has changed meaning is “acceptance.” Decades ago, when I used the word acceptance...
Advent Reflection #3: There were Shepherds in the Field
The angel announcing the birth of Jesus could have visited any number of people. However, the angel specifically spoke to a group of shepherds who were tending their sheep. The shepherds were terrified upon seeing the angel. Not only did they see this angel shining with God’s glorious light, but then, many more angels appeared. The shepherd’s uneventful night became an experience which forever...
Advent Reflection #2: The Sacrificial Gifts of the Magi
I believe nothing mentioned in the Scriptures is by chance. Each example or story contains meaningful or hidden truths. The story of the three wise men: Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar, as written in Matthew 2:1-12, I feel is one worthy of deeper contemplation. To make this journey, these three men were deeply motivated and inspired. Each of them made incredible sacrifices to search for an...
Advent Reflection #1: Making Himself Nothing
“In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature of a servant, being made in human likeness.” Philippians 2:5-7 (NIV) I remain in awe of how Jesus made Himself nothing. It is beyond my comprehension to...
Sense of Well-Being
We make resolutions every New Year to exercise more, and some of us do. We try the new diets, and foods with organic or all-natural labels fly off the shelves. People love to care about health. But unfortunately, what falls to the wayside in that quest to be physically healthy is spiritual and emotional well-being. Too often we forget about our sense of being, or we believe there isn’t...
Revealing Shame
On the surface, shame can be seen as a tool which can keep us aware of our manners, our surroundings, our volume levels. There are those who will say that shameless people are the people who are brash, hasty, impulsive, or loud, and that a healthy dose of shame is what keeps each person a diplomatic member of our society. Any disobedient child who ran across the street without looking or said...
