Category: Everyday Living

Stopping for the Moments

Posted on by hona

It was a morning just like every other morning, but I was running a little late and decided to squeeze in a run. Off on my usual route in my neighborhood, I smiled at my fellow neighbors who were doing a little exercise to jump start the day. I turned back to head home, and an older lady was walking down the opposite side of the road. I was tired, but as I ran by her, I looked at her face and her name popped into my head. On this ordinary morning, my 1st grade teacher was walking in my neighborhood. I had a split second to decide, and not wanting our next conversation to be in heaven, I stopped running and went back to her…

Delighting in the Here and Now

Posted on by hona

We were sitting around the table on a Friday- waiting. Waiting for someone to come so one person could go on an adventure. Waiting for someone else to carry on with their day. The clock seemed to slowly make its way around, minute by minute. Waiting characterizes so much of our everyday lives. I will be the first to admit. I don’t always wait well. Long lines at a restaurant, traffic that slows you down, or people running late to meetings can be highly inconvenient. We are forced to learn to wait in the everyday moments of our lives…

When Why is the Wrong Question

Posted on by hona

Photo Credit: Bureau of Land Management via Creative Commons  [dropcaps style=”]T[/dropcaps]here is one question that we learn to ask at an early age: why? While it can test the patience of any parent, those initial questions show that we are trying to discover the underlying meaning or reason for something existing. We become accustomed to

Watering Our Lives

Posted on by hona

sat on my patio, taking a needed break to soak in a little sunshine. As I looked around at the grass, it was so lush and thick from all of the rain. You don’t need to use a sprinkler system with the rain we have been experiencing. Yet, the sun was shining, which is another key component for growth. The day finally came to a close, and the sun dipped its head behind the horizon until tomorrow. 3 AM rolled around with all of its fury – thunder, lightening, and rain…lots of rain. As it poured and I listened to it crash onto the roof, the rain didn’t seem wonderful. Wonderful was actually the last word I had in mind. Yet, when I awoke in the morning, the grass was bright green and standing tall. The rain was working its purpose to water the earth. The violence of the storm was yielding something beautiful…

Wading Through the Murky Waters of Being Known

Posted on by hona

While it would be impossible to have that type of relationship with everyone, there should be a handful of people in our lives that know us. I don’t think anyone is born as an expert on friendship or relationships. We are all wading through the murky waters of being known in a world that values perfection and independence. Sometimes it is simply one moment, story, or experience that begins to bind hearts together in friendship. Everyone has a story, and if you don’t think someone does, then you likely just haven’t heard it yet. Hearing about someone’s struggle with their family, overcoming a health difficulty, or navigating a broken relationship reminds us that we are not alone. It can be scary and intimidating, but we will never truly experience the gifts of community without letting people share in our story…