Whispering Winds Blog

Grace and a Failing Grade

Pastor Jeff told a quick story at the end of the church service last week. An old friend of his, a priest, had died earlier in the week. This story was told at his funeral. The priest had been an English teacher in a Catholic high school. Many years ago, one of his students came…

Marian

October 22, 2013

God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

athletic policy, Catholic high school, change in my life, Charles Stanley, English teacher, failing grade, fairness, friends, God’s gifts, God’s love, God-given gifts, grace, grace of God, high school, high school football, homework, homework assignments, kindness, life challenges, listening for God, love your neighbor, Pastor Jeff, reflections, report card, school policies, spirituality, Tony Campolo, undeserved gifts
Stumbling along in Life

Abbey was lying on the floor beside my desk as I was going through emails. After about ten minutes, she looked up at me and asked, “Hey, Mom. Have a few minutes to talk?” “Sure, Abbey. What’s up?” “When we were out for our walk this morning, did you notice me stumble? I was prancing…

Marian

October 15, 2013

God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

Abbey, change in my life, embarrassed, embarrassment, God tripped me, God’s love, God-given gifts, humility, kindness, life calling, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, patience, reflections, stumble, stumbling, talking with Abbey, talking with God, walking with Abbey
“O Lord, I want you to help me”

If you were confined to jail for several months, and you were allowed to get together in the jail chapel with the chaplain and a few other inmates for an hour once every two weeks to have a time to read the Bible, share your thoughts, pray for each other, and sing a couple songs,…

Marian

October 8, 2013

God’s Love, Jail Ministry, Music, Reflections

Amazing Grace, friends, God’s love, help me, help me on my journey, help me on this journey, How Great Thou Art, inmates singing, jail chapel, jail ministry, life challenges, life changes, listening for God, love your neighbor, O God help me, O Lord I want you to help me, Precious Lord Take My Hand, reflections, singing, spirituality, Surely the presence of the Lord, talking with God
Thoughts on Gratitude

Gratitude is the single most important ingredient to living a successful and fulfilled life. (Jack Canfield, creator of the Chicken Soup for the Soul series of books) Anna, the 92-year-old woman who lives with Mim and me, knows that very well. She is so appreciative of everything anyone does for her. “Thank you” is probably…

Marian

October 1, 2013

Assisted Living, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

assisted living, Aztec Prayer, Aztec Prayer to God, blessings, congratulations, Country Comforts, Country Comforts Assisted Living, Edward Hays, farmhouse, friends, fulfilled life, gratitude, hospitality, Jack Canfield, kind wishes, kindness, life calling, life challenges, listening for God, love your neighbor, Old World Wisconsin, onion farm, Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim, reflections, root vegetables, spirituality, thankfulness, warm wishes
Why did we do it?

Sunday in church our pastor announced to the congregation that Mim and I were married in Minneapolis last weekend, after living together 40 years. Seated on the organ bench, which is near the front of the sanctuary, I looked out over all the people who had great big smiles on their faces as they applauded…

Marian

September 24, 2013

Celebrations, God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Personal Retreats

Augsburg College, Bible study, Blessing Ceremony, change in my life, church family, Commitment Ceremony, friends, getting organized, goals, God’s love, legal protections, life calling, life challenges, Minneapolis, power of attorney documents, real wedding, reflections, same-sex marriage, wedding, wedding day, wills
Sharing Some Thoughts

Marilyn Huebel, a very good friend of mine in Chicago, writes a weekly blog, much like I do. A couple Mondays ago she posted “Vinegar on Spinach.” I really liked the post, and asked her if I could share it on my blog sometime. She agreed, and today’s the day you get to read it.…

Marian

September 17, 2013

Life’s Challenges, Reflections

doing things differently, friends, life challenges, Marilyn Huebel, musings, nostalgic reflection, people do it differently, reflections, right vs. wrong, tribal preferences, vinegar on spinach, vinegar vs. butter
Make My Day!

A few weeks ago I received a phone call from Gladys, one of my ninety-plus-year-old friends in Chicago. I had sent her a letter to tell her about the two books I’ve written, and she was calling to talk about them, as well as to bring Mim and me up to date with some changes…

Marian

September 10, 2013

God’s Love, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

Adventures in Hospitality, Aunt Edith, Barbara Robinson, blind, blindness, book stub, books on tape, devotional book, e-book format, free copy of book, friends, Friendship Club, Gladys Johnson, goals, God’s love, God-given gifts, hospitality, Kindle, kindness, life calling, life challenges, life changes, Lighthouse for the Blind, listening for God, love your neighbor, macular degeneration, make my day, old friends, reading to the blind, reflections, Resurrection Lutheran Church, seniors club, Text-to-Speech, The Best Christmas Pageant Ever
My Mom’s Wedding Ring

I wore my mom’s wedding ring to church on Sunday. I sometimes wear the ring when I want to feel that Mom is especially close to me. Often that’s when I’m planning to play some extra special music on the piano or organ at church, and I know Mom would really enjoy listening to it.…

Marian

September 3, 2013

God’s Love, Music, Reflections

Be Still My Soul, Bill Gaither, church family, church music, coffee hour, East Koshkonong Lutheran Church, extended family, family of God, Finlandia, friends, God’s love, God-given gifts, His Eye Is on the Sparrow, In the Garden, life calling, Messiah Lutheran Church, mom, organist, pianist, reflections, Sibelius, the Family of God, wedding ring
Why Did God Create Wasps?

“Hey, Mom. Why did God create wasps?” “That’s a good question, Abbey. I’ve been wondering the same thing myself. We’ve sure had a lot of them on our deck and our front porch this summer. An exterminator has been here three times this month, and we still have wasps. Some days I’m afraid to sit…

Marian

August 27, 2013

Life’s Challenges, Nature

Abbey, agricultural pest control, bee, bee sting, bees, benefit of the doubt, biocontrol, exterminator, God’s creation, God’s love, good reason for creating wasps, life challenges, life is complicated, little beasts, looking for the good, nature, parasitic wasps, pest control, pest insect, pest insects, reflections, spirituality, sting, wasp, wasp species, wasp sting, wasps
Reclaiming Sunday

Do not let Sunday be taken from you. If your soul has no Sunday, it becomes an orphan. Albert Schweitzer When I was a little kid, Sundays had a very different rhythm from every other day of the week. The day started with a different breakfast. We had cold cereal with milk and bananas. Every…

Marian

August 19, 2013

Blogs, Goals, Life’s Challenges, Reflections

Albert Schweitzer, blogging, day of rest, goals, life challenges, Maya Angelou, reflections, Sabbath, spirituality, Sunday, Sunday afternoon, Sunday dinner, working on Sunday