Oh, to be a Hermit…

… I always wanted to be one — in a modern sense, not the ancient idea — at least I don’t think so… Society today calls a hermit someone who just doesn’t want to be with people all the time — someone who draws strength from being alone and actually loses energy by being in…

In the Valley

A few days ago, my husband and walked through the Hinnom Valley to the Old City. It is down a steep hill and then up a steep hill, up, up, up to the Jaffa Gate. It was noon and very hot. About half way there, I regretted tagging along with him. I regretted leaving in…

Queen of Fun

Our daughter is currently in Milan, Italy. She has been traveling with a team of young people through Europe for the last month. This experience is her “cup of tea”–community living, team work, group outreach, serving, and sharing the joy of the hope that resides within her heart with others. Here they are in a…

Anti-Semitism vs Anti-Zionism

I believe that Helen Thomas’s remarks were anti-Semitic. Basically she called for the ethnic cleansing of the state of Israel. That call was purely racist. Any demand for ethnic cleansing is outrageous and should not be tolerated. Anti-Semitism is anti-Zionism in post-modern language. The media endeavors to soften the rhetoric by saying that anti-Zionism is not…

Focused

“I close my eyes in order to see.” ~ Paul Gauguin, painter We are trained from an early age to close our eyes during prayer. This ritual/habit probably began with the idea of reverence for God — and shutting out the world and all immediate distraction in order to focus on the one who hears…

Enlarged in the Waiting

In my quiet time today, I read this passage. We know that the whole world has been crying. It has had much pain until now. And not the world only, but we ourselves also cry out. We have the first blessing God gives of his Spirit. But we cry out in our hearts. We are waiting…

Things are Blurry Now

I have always wanted to study the art of pottery making; so when we visited a potter’s house in Addis Ababa last week, my heart beat for joy. Actually, my hubby and I have visited this place three times over the years, and each trip is just as wonderful as the first. I watched in…

Led by Children

Children leading a blind man on the streets of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.