What No One Told Me

When I went to ministry school in Missouri, no one told this Pacific Northwest girl to watch out for ticks. I learned about fireflies, chiggers, and massive red spiders…but not ticks. When I discovered a mysterious black dot on my arm, no one knew what it was. No one raised an eyebrow at my summer “flu.” And four years later, when the real flu knocked me flat and wouldn’t let me get back up, no one saw any connection with my ramble in the woods one Saturday afternoon in September.

A New Season

New seasons are a glorious thing. Whether it’s the first crocuses of spring, crickets on a summer evening, vibrant fall foliage, or a cozy winter fire in the hearth, it feels like a fresh mini-era opens up with every quarter revolution around the sun. The changes marking the progression of time always give me a sense of adventure and fresh enthusiasm for life.