I learn quite a bit from my puppy, especially about my relationship with a much higher Master.  I can’t help but think about Lucy’s amazement about me, and correlate that to my wonder about God.   (I’ve written about my puppy before). Lucy can’t open doors.  She waits for me.  She doesn’t understand why I must brush her (OK, Nicole usually does it), and, because she’s an energetic puppy and is still learning, she fights it.  My wife and I have to team up to give her a bath, and she’s anxious to get out again into the backyard and find the mud.  She has no idea what we’re doing when we’re cooking, but she actively hunts for scraps that fall from the counter, or crumbs that fall from the table.  Can you see yourself in her?  Even a little? The other day I was pruning one of my beautiful redbud trees.   (I’ve written about them before too).  Unfortunately, at the end of last season a large section of it died.  I find that the trees often will redistribute their energy and leave d

I have lists on my mind today.    Lists, as you know, are very useful.    We make one for shopping items, one for daily tasks, one for goals, even wishes, and of course we could go on and on because there are lists for everything (music, grievances, favorites, etc.) My wife is a list person.    She calls them “empowering.”    She’s referring specifically to to-do lists when she says that.    I like a lot of different kinds of lists, but I really don’t like to-do lists.    I find them to be demanding, overwhelming, draining, the opposite of empowering.    I once wrote what I thought was a clever and humorous “break up letter” to my to-do list, but never shared it with anyone because when it was finished it sounded like a really whiny complaint.    And it was. I use a to-do list, of course.    In fact, I keep an electronic one that is also tied to my calendar.    It’s an incredibly useful tool that is a wonderful blessing that lets me accomplish more.    I hate it. I’m a t

I’ve shared this on social media before, but since the birds are singing this morning and the earth is warming again, I thought I’d toss it up on the blog. God bless you today and always!  truth + love “Cheerily!”   Scent of warm air, First breath of spring, Damp earth, kiss of sun, Robin starts to sing: "Cheerily, cheer up! Cheer up! Cheerily, cheer up!" Redbuds open Squirrels chatter loud, Tulip shoots, gentle rain, Cardinal whistles proud: "Hear, hear, Birdie, birdie, birdie! Cheer, Cheer, Birdie, birdie, birdie!" Dawn breaks early, Sky, sapphire clear, Cotton tails, greening grass, Black-cap calls love near: "Sweetie! Sweetie! Take-a-see-see-see-see, Sweetie! Chickadee-dee-dee-dee-dee!" Awake, O earth, Cheerily, cheer up! Take heart, O man, Hear birdie, birdie, birdie! Spring at last, Take-a-see-see-see!

My soon-to-be wife and I hopped in my green Cavalier and made the 5-hour trek down to St. Louis.  It was springtime, and we knew we would be married in the summer, and that we’d move down there after the honeymoon, and I’d start school at the Seminary.  The rest we’d have to figure out. We had a lot to accomplish during our short visit.  Nicole had an interview set up with the children’s hospital.  I had to learn a little about the campus and see what else they needed from me before I came.  And we had to find a place to live.  The Seminary had some housing for married couples and families, but not enough—at least not at the time.  We were told to find an apartment off campus.  So we came down to hunt. I had never been on the campus before.  I noticed how beautiful it was.  The grand old buildings, the cross-shaped (relatively new at the time) chapel, the grass and plants were well maintained—all of it gorgeous.  What I remember most of all, however, are the flowering tree