Category: Life’s Challenges

• A Glimpse of God’s Love

  Last Saturday, Mim and I tried to drive to Chicago, normally about a two and a half hour drive, for a memorial service. Unfortunately, we got only as far as the distant northwest suburbs before we decided to turn around and go home. Although the weather forecast for Chicago was to get only 1 to…

  Marian

  January 16, 2019

  Book Recommendations, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  Austin, Bumping into God, CCHC, Chicago, Circle Christian Health Center, Circle Church, Circle Urban Ministries, Dominic Grassi, funeral, God’s love, Jon Beran, Love of God, memorial service, mom, Mom’s faith, neighborhood, Nita Beran, trusting God

• A Long Talk with My Dog – the best way to begin the New Year.

  Floey jumped down from the couch, stretched her whole body, and sauntered over to me. I was sitting at my desk. She plopped herself down right next to me. But instead of resuming her nap, she looked up at me and asked, “What are you doing, Mom? You look like you’re just staring off into…

  Marian

  January 10, 2019

  God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, New Year, Reflections

  Floey, God’s love, groomer, haircut, inspiration, Listen, Love of God, New Year’s Resolution, patience, peace, reflections, small talk, special word

• Today’s Politics Should Prompt New Hymns

  I’ve been working on my next book of reflections on hymns, and just completed the story behind “O Master, Let Me Walk with Thee.” The writing of this hymn was prompted by the social and economic conditions in the United States following the Civil War. As I was explaining the context of this hymn to…

  Marian

  September 26, 2018

  God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  age of technology, Congregational minister, Congregational pastor, extreme poverty, extreme wealth, horrid Washington crew, hypocrite, industrial age, injustice, justice, MARYTON, O Master Let Me Walk with Thee, social gospel, social gospel movement, Washington Gladden

• Peace – Let It Begin with Me

  “Hey, Mom.” My dog Floey came ambling over to me as I sat at my desk. “Good morning, Floey. What’s up?” I replied. “I just saw on TV that it’s supposed to be as hot and humid today as it was yesterday. Do we have to go on any long walks today? I’d rather stay…

  Marian

  August 14, 2018

  Goals, Life’s Challenges, Music, Reflections

  1955, Election Day, Floey, Jill Jackson Miller, Let There Be Peace on Earth, new book, peace, peaceful world, Primary, Sy Miller, Talking with God through Music, Vote, Voting Day

• Your Perspective?

  Yesterday morning my dog Floey and I went for a long walk and a long talk. It was already a hot day, but I figured if we walked on country roads rather than sidewalks, we might catch a little breeze. I was right. As soon as we turned off Water Street onto Highland Drive the…

  Marian

  July 16, 2018

  Blogs, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  asylum, bicyclist, Buddy, Casita Copan, Central America, Copan, different perspectives, Ellen Finn, Ellen Lippman Finn, Emotional Witness, Floey, Honduras, imigrants, little white dog, long talk, long walk, perspective, tourism, violence, walk, What can I do?, world traveler

• What Can I Do?

  That question has been on my mind every day for the past couple weeks as I have watched the news from our southern border. And I know I’m not alone. A few days ago one of my Facebook friends wrote,  “I just keep giving because I don’t know what else to do beyond contact my…

  Marian

  June 26, 2018

  Book Recommendations, Goals, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  asylum, blogging, border patrol, Buenos Vecinos, Casita Copan, Central America, drug traffickers, El Salvador, Ellen Finn, Ellen Lippman Finn, Emotional Witness, gang violence, gangs, Good Neighbors, Guatemala, hit list, Honduras, immigration, long-term solution, Mexican border, RAICES, refugees, root cause, southern border, violence, World Refugee Day

• Seven To-Dos to Prepare for a Special Guest

  In one of my devotional readings this morning, the writer asked, “What would you do if you knew Jesus would be dropping in for a visit in five minutes?” There’s not a lot anyone can do in five minutes, so I decided to think about the question a little differently. “What would I do if…

  Marian

  June 5, 2018

  Celebrations, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  almond brownies, clean house, fix dinner, google Mary and Martha, hospitality, invite guests, Mary and Martha, Mim, play piano, rhubarb coffee cake, sing praises to God, special guest, talk with Jesus, Talking with God through Music, to-do list, visit with Jesus, writing project

• A Tree, a 100-Year-Old Friend, and Lots of Memories

  Twenty-six years ago Mim and I left Chicago to move back to the family farmhouse in Wisconsin – the farm where I had grown up, also where my mom had grown up and lived almost her whole life. My brother re-modeled the farmhouse for us to make it our perfect home – doubling the square…

  Marian

  May 24, 2018

  Celebrations, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  100 days, 100 years, birthday celebration, Chicago neighbor, hundredth birthday, Memorial Day, memories, Memories Day, neighbors, old oak tree, remodeled farmhouse, Ruth, Ruth Robbins, target practice, tree stump, two-flat, Uncle Helmer

• Memoir of a 70-Year-Old Super Hero

  Do you ever fantasize about being a super hero like Superman, Wonder Woman, or even an old fashioned hero like Roy Rogers or Robin Hood and Maid Marian? I just finished reading a book about a woman that I can somewhat identify with. She’s about my age. She quit her job as a counselor and…

  Marian

  February 15, 2018

  Book Recommendations, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

  70-year-old super hero, aid worker, Buenos Vecinos, Christmas baskets, Copan Ruinas, drug traffickers, Ellen Finn, Ellen Lippman Finn, hit list, Honduras, Maid Marian, mountain villages, Project School Supplies, Robin Hood, Roy Rogers, rural villages, spirituality, super hero, Superman, Wonder Woman

• A New Year… A New Word!

  2018 is the fifth year that I’ve chosen a special word to be my focus for the new year. Unlike making up new year’s resolutions, choosing a special word can be an inspiration for the whole year, not something to measure yourself against until you fail, and then forget about. At least that’s how it’s…

  Marian

  January 3, 2018

  Book Recommendations, Life’s Challenges, New Year, Reflections

  gratitude, Hillary Clinton, hope, Joan Chittister, joy, kindness, New Word, New Year, New Year’s Resolution, peace, Scarred by Struggle Transformed by Hope, What Happened