Feeling Sheepish?

Sheep and goats. Goats and sheep. That’s all we are. All we’ve ever been. All we’ll ever be. But here’s the rub, which are we? Recently, I have been hearing a lot folks say they are tiring of the battle. Tired of the in-fighting. Tired of the online fighting. Tired of the rock-throwing, vitriol spewing […]

Gate by Gate: Navigating the Slalom Course of Life

Sometimes you just have to do things in order. First things first. No exceptions. Oh, I want to put things behind me and just “get on with it.” But life is not a ‘now we join our regularly scheduled program, already in progress’ experience. Stuff happens. Sometimes it is big stuff, and we need to put […]

Sewing Order

“We will so order our lives after the example of Christ…” That’s the beginning of the prayer we offer to newly baptized children or just confirmed young people in our church. This phrase always catches me. It’s that word: order. Not just act like Christ. Not just dress up like Christ. Not just have Christ as a […]

What if order is essential and distraction denies?

My mind works differently nowadays and I think it’s technology’s fault. I don’t think I’m alone. Everybody’s doing it. Flitting from one screen to the  next, one conversation to the next, one opportunity to the next. All without taking a breath. And we have to, right? I mean how otherwise could we Black Friday shop […]

Is negligence costing you, too?

I don’t neglect on purpose. It’s an accident. I don’t pay attention. Let it slide. Save it for a rainy day. Wait until I have big block of time. Just don’t notice it anymore. My mess The last may be the worst. Something small and insignificant doesn’t demand my attention so I set is aside […]

Order or Organized

Life is cluttered. So much stuff. So little room. In fact, it seems the more room I have the more stuff I fill it with. But where is its place? Where does it belong? On my very diligent days, I tackle a pile or a closet or even a room. “Aha! I will organize you! […]

Giving and taking, it’s all part of the Dance

Some say there are two kinds of people in the world: givers and takers. Givers give because: they’re generous/have the gift of generosity or they want people to like them or they want to be sure they are good enough some want to be sure they are good enough for God Takers take because: they […]

Disorder Distracts

I have my moments. When I can operate in the middle of the fray, regardless of the chaos happening around me, just keep piling and not even slow down. But these moments are few. Generally, I need a clean desk. I don’t think this is a compulsive tendency. I think it’s more of a visual […]

Out of Order means It Doesn’t Work

My husband said to me, “Here. I’m bringing you a gift.” And in his hand he held a dozen or so empty hangers he had pulled from his shirt rack. “Thanks. You can just put them in the laundry bin,” I told him, “I’ll take it down when I go downstairs.” He looked at me […]