London will always be the city that I love.
Too many mornings we woke up together as I drifted into the north end of town on the first train, then disappeared underground for five stops, emerging at Victoria Station. Too many late nights we drifted off together as I slipped away in my Mini Cooper, listening to David Gray’s “Babylon” and hitting the M40, driving west toward the darkness and the smell of trees.
Continue reading “Can You Love a City?”
One of the worst things a writer can do is write a paragraph, then go back and fix that up, then write another paragraph, then go back and fix that one up. When I do this, I’m not moving forward, I’m not gaining critical speed.
I’m not learning fast enough.
If I write 100 words a day, always perfecting, always fidgeting, it will take me two years to write the first draft of a fairly average-length book.
Picture this: children running in circles around you and doors left open every time you turn around. Sliding doors slamming shut, then opening, then slamming shut, just for the fun of it. Early morning screams for cereal by two toddlers. Kids everywhere.
Maile’s mom, sister-in-law, niece and two nephews came to stay with us for about a week. The upside? Our four kids (yes, that makes seven total) were in cousin paradise, playing freeze-tag and flitting through water sprinklers late into the summer nights while the adults played Blockus and drank iced tea and caught up.
The downside? My family lives in a very small house and I am self-employed. We home school. We live very quiet lives.
Throw into the mix the fact that I am a hermit, often times a grouchy hermit, and my graciousness was sorely tested.
Continue reading “Rachelle Gardner and Bruce Nuffer: House Guests (in an Imaginary, Non-Weird Way)”
Last week I asked you to give me your most-read blog posts from May. In the comments you left over thirty great posts, an all-star list of what’s out there. For the last week, I’ve enjoyed reading through each and every post – here are the highlights of my journey through the best of May: Continue reading “The Best of May”
I am not a huge fan of the summer. I prefer cooler temperatures, the smell of woodsmoke and the colors of autumn. But in an attempt to be thankful and, as Henri Nouwen says, to live in the Here and Now, here’s my list of the top ten things I like about summer:
1. Cooking food on the grill
2. Eating vegetables right out of the garden
3. Mowing the yard
4. Air conditioning
5. Long days of sunlight
Continue reading “Tuesday’s Top 10: Summer”
Control.
A controller dictates the actions of things on video games. We use remote controls to make tiny cars turn or watch what we want on television. Control towers dictate the movement of thousands of planes every day, all around the world.
So I guess in these instances, control is fun or challenging or makes our lives easier or travel safer. We try to maintain control in order to get a desired outcome.
No wonder I try to control people.
I control my kids with consequences or a raised voice. I control friends with affirmation or judgment. I try to control strangers with charity or fear.
Why the obsession? Why this need for control? Continue reading “Put Down the Remote Control, Church Leaders”
