A Man of Sound Judgment

In power since 1959, he is one of the world’s longest ruling leaders. He has outlasted nine US presidents. 

Oprah’s Secret…

I have heard Oprah Winfrey tell a story about the first time she appeared on the Johnny Carson show a number of years ago. Obviously, she was beyond thrilled. Oprah was ecstatic! Just like a myriad of would-be stars, having her “three minutes of fame” on the Johnny Carson show meant Oprah had made it.  

Laughing Over Cookies–and Algebra!

“Why don’t you bake cookies like other grandmothers?” I asked my Grandma Eva when I was about 13 years old. I was old enough to know most grandmothers baked cookies and excelled in homemaking qualities. 

Oh, Happy Day!

Last night, our 19 year-old daughter woke us up at 3:30 AM to say she had a stomach ache. When she was little, she awakened us occasionally and complained about her stomach. One of us would usually crawl into bed with her, hold her, and pray for her; and we would return to sleep. The next morning she felt fine.

What Moves Me

You know how one small happening can change the complexion of your whole day? 

Who are the Mystics?

There is some discussion about Mother Theresa and her “dark night of the soul,” or the last half of her life until her death when she experienced no “feeling” of the presence of God.  

‘A Horse with No Name’

When Wayne and I saw a popular cult-classic film on tv recently starring Bruce Willis and a host of others, we heehawed when Bruce Willis said, “Hey, I’m American. Our names don’t mean squat.” His foreign girlfriend was trying to wring some meaning out of who he was. 

Dare to Live in Irony

When I teach creative writing to beginners, I emphasize three things: the need for strong action verbs, the importance of simile and metaphor, and the power of irony. Some say the best writers are those who use irony to craft the illustration and application of their story.