Piper & A Child of God
When I went to movies as a child, there was always a short film, a cartoon, or part of a serialized western before the main film. Now movies are longer and are preceded by previews of coming attractions, commercials for what the concession stand sells, and warnings to turn off your cell phone. So, when I took some of my grandchildren to last summer’s Finding Dory, I was thrilled to see a short animated feature from Pixar Studios. This {Read More}
Other Mothers
It has been a quarter century since my mother-in-law died and yet, in many ways, in seems like last month. Our family still uses her recipes and talks about her caring ways. We laugh about her funny expressions. A recent spring cool spell reminded me that I think she called that “blackberry winter.” Or something. There was a name for everything that happened because in 85 years of living she’d seen a lot happen. Yet I never saw her lose {Read More}
The Birds of Easter
Years ago in late summer we moved into a house that had been empty almost a year. When I opened the fireplace damper to see if it was operational, four dead birds fell out. That should have warned us that we needed to screen the chimney top. But we were busy with getting settled and put it off. In early spring I awoke to a clanging sound coming from downstairs. When I investigated, I found another bird caught in the {Read More}
My Bucket List
We used to say, “These are the things I’d like to do before I die.” However, after the movie The Bucket List was released in 2007, our jargon changed. That film prompted many to create their own list for the first time. Although the name may have changed, the idea has not. Time flies when we’re paying bills, and life continues on whether we take time to follow our dreams of what we want to accomplish before we die. I {Read More}
Help in Times of Trouble
Does God care about our everyday problems? My answer from experience is always a resounding, Yes. In 1993 I was attending Southern Seminary in Louisville, KY. I lived about 30 miles from the seminary, it was a long commute on class days. Anyone who has ever driven on I-64 through the Cochran Hill tunnels during rush hour knows that it’s not much fun. At this time I was driving a Chevy van with a mind of its own. Too often the {Read More}
How to Marry a Millionaire – Queen of Sheba
The 1953 romantic comedy How to Marry a Millionaire ushered in Cinemascope’s long narrow screen. It starred Marilyn Monroe (Pola), Lauren Bacall (Schatze), and Betty Grable (Loco) as beautiful young models pooling their resources to share a Manhattan penthouse. This put them in the right neighborhood to achieve their stated goals—to each “catch” and marry a millionaire. Call them fortune hunters, gold-diggers, whatever; marrying money was their dream. Meantime, they barely earned enough to pay their exorbitant rent. The women {Read More}
Review of Stars in the Grass
Mentoring Moments columnist Ann Marie Stewart’s newly released novel, Stars in the Grass, debuted on February 1. The idyllic world of nine-year-old Abby McAndrews is transformed when a tragedy tears her family apart. Before the accident, her dad, Reverend John McAndrews, had all the answers, but now his questions and guilt threaten to destroy his family. Abby’s fifteen-year-old brother, Matt, begins an angry descent as he acts out in dangerous ways. Her mother tries to hold her grieving family together, {Read More}
The Miracle Worker and Mary Magdalene
The Miracle Worker, based on Helen Keller’s book The Story of My Life, was released in 1962. Shot in black and white, the strarkness of the film showcases the gravity of the situation. Anne Bancroft plays Annie Sullivan, the woman who taught a blind, deaf and mute child how to communicate with the world around her. Patty Duke, in her first major role, plays that child. Both actresses won Academy Awards for their performances: Bancroft for Best Actress and Duke {Read More}
The Gift of Peace
Christmas isn’t all about gifts but, in our culture, few escape gift giving. While I write lists and shop throughout the year, more talented individuals make what they give. They say it’s a way of giving themselves. I admire those who sew, paint, sculpt, photograph . . . their gifts, but I’m not among them. My hands tend to get in the way. However, among my most memorable gifts are ones that were handmade for me. While learning ceramics, my {Read More}
Is It Time to Hit the Panic Button?
Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests (Luke 2:14 NIV). It’s hard to believe how Christmas creeps up on us faster and faster as time goes by. Last year if our 16-year-old hadn’t pulled out the Christmas tree, we probably wouldn’t have had one. She began unpacking the decorations and her brother joined in. They played Christmas music as they hung the ornaments, garland and lights. It was starting {Read More}
