• Life Lessons

    Do you Know how to Ski?

    “Hurry up, the race is starting!” my husband called. I grabbed the popcorn and rushed to the living room to watch the Winter Olympics’ ski competition. “How can they go down that mountain so fast without hitting all those trees?” I wondered. “Focus on what you want, not what might stop you,” he said. “That’s what the commentator explained.” My fingers raced to Google just the same. According to Rei.com: Scan the terrain ahead of you as you go so you can adjust to trees, rocks, stumps and other obstacles that may be in your way.  Don’t fixate on the trees, but rather the white spaces between them—this will help…

  • Life Lessons

    Are you a Tight Rope Walker?

    “Why are you covering your eyes?” my husband asked. “It’ll be over before you know it.” “I can’t look!” I cried, “What if he falls to his death?” We were watching a video of Nik Wallenda walking across a Grand Canyon gorge on a tight rope. My heart raced and stomach curled up in a knot. “Can you hear him?” he asked, “He’s praising and thanking Jesus!” I had to open my eyes to verify the unexpected declaration. In an interview afterwards he declared: “it took every bit of me to stay focused”. He said that dust had accumulated in his contacts and called the walk unusually stressful. However, he…

  • Life Lessons

    Are You a Tightrope Walker?

    “Why are you covering your eyes?” my husband asked. “It’ll be over before you know it.” “I can’t look!” I cried, “What if he falls to his death?” We were watching a video of Nik Wallenda walking across a Grand Canyon gorge on a tight rope. My heart raced and stomach curled up in a knot. “Can you hear him?” he asked, “He’s praising and thanking Jesus!” I had to open my eyes to verify the unexpected declaration. In an interview afterwards he declared: “it took every bit of me to stay focused”. He said that dust had accumulated in his contacts and called the walk unusually stressful. However, he…

  • Life Lessons

    Trust

    “Dad wants you to take this.” I handed my son a pill along with a glass of water. He stretched out his hand to grab the medicine without taking his eyes off of the TV, swallowed it and gave me  the empty glass. “Incredible!” I said to my husband. “His 9-year-old mind doesn’t even question what we’re giving him.” “Yes,” he responded. “He trusts us enough to place his whole life in our hands, knowing without a doubt that we’ll never do anything to hurt him.” Without realizing it, my boy’s thoughtless response reminded me of a truth that the Lord emphasizes throughout the Bible. “Trust in the Lord with…

  • Life Lessons

    Are you Ready to Play Ball?

    “I got fired,” my friend sobbed. “I don’t know what to do. It was totally unexpected. I never thought it could happen to me!” She was barely holding it together. This new job seemed so promising. She had been excited and hopeful for months since she was offered the position in such a prestigious company. And just like that, two weeks into it, she was let go. “You’re not performing like we expected,” her supervisor said. “But it’s been less than two weeks! Give me a chance!” she begged unsuccessfully. What do you say to someone who’s been thrown a curve ball by life? How do you comfort someone who’s…