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“A Season for Every Activity under Heaven”
There is a time for everything, and a season for every activity under heaven…. A time to weep and a time to laugh, a time to mourn and a time to dance…. [Ecclesiastes 3: 1, 4] Two friends of mine died last week. One was a high school classmate. Nicki had a very bubbly personality…
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Parish Nurses, Nutty Knitters, and More Blessings
This past weekend, a group of nine nurses gathered at Whispering Winds. Friday night was essentially a party, a time to relax and have fun together. Saturday was a more reflective time, an opportunity for sharing and contemplating ways to allow ourselves to be renewed physically, emotionally, and spiritually. I joined the nurses for some…
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Rain and Snow and God’s Word
Last year our church in Madison (Messiah Lutheran Church – ELCA) prepared a Lenten devotional booklet. Each entry was written by a different volunteer from the congregation. The volunteer was given a verse from the lectionary for that day to be the focus of their reflection. The booklet ended up being a wonderful aid to…
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High Stakes Musical Chairs
“Musical Chairs” is the game I hated to play in kindergarten. When Miss Polly asked us to arrange the chairs for the game, I just dreaded the next half hour of the day. As you may recall from your childhood, the way the game goes is that chairs are arranged in a double row with…
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To-Do Lists
One of the symptoms of an approaching nervous breakdown is the belief that one’s work is terribly important. [Bertrand Russell] We all like to think our work is important – whether the work is what we do on our job or what we do at home. Many of us have so many important tasks to…
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New Year’s Resolutions
Well, Abbey, it’s already January 2, 2012, and time to continue our conversation from last week about the changes in our lives in 2011, and New Year’s Resolutions for 2012. I’ve been thinking a lot about whether or not to make any New Year’s Resolutions this year, and I don’t think I will. I don’t…
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A Year-End Conversation with My Dog, Abbey
[Copied from my first blog. Originally posted on December 26, 2011.] So, Abbey, as you look back over 2011, have there been any significant changes in your life? I guess the most significant change in my life is that I’ve changed my attitude toward sneaking out for a walk. I know it makes you…
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God’s Love Made Visible
[Copied from first blog. Originally posted December 19, 2011.] I experienced another God-wink last week. It was Thursday afternoon and I was in the county jail to play the piano for the women’s worship service. There were nine of us sitting in a circle in the chapel – the chaplain, myself, and seven inmates. After…
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Alphabet Stories
[Copied from old blog. Originally posted December 12, 2011.] Do you remember learning the alphabet song? I remember figuring out that it’s the same tune as “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star.” It was a good song to learn, because it helped me memorize the letters of the alphabet and the order they came in. I…
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Christmas Music Memories
[Copied from first blog. Originally posted on December 5, 2011.] When I was in first grade, I remember the Methodist and Presbyterian kids got together in church for something. I don’t remember any of the details, except one. We sang my favorite Christmas song, Away in a Manger – but it wasn’t the right tune!…
Whispering Winds Blog
Taking Time to be still and listen for God
Whispering Winds Blog 