Life in Words

I have a friend whose name is Charles. He is married and has a daughter. He and his wife are college graduates with well respected careers. While attending a private Christian university Charles was elected class body president his senior year. He has met many important government officials and even ran for a public office. If you had to guess which box he would check on the census for his race, would you guess correctly? I have a husband whose name most people can not pronounce. His parents picked the name because they thought it would be an easy, two syllable name for native English speakers. When people meet him for the first time, he often has to repeat his name slowly multiple times. He's been asked if he could go by a different name so that it would be easier for those around him to say his name.  Would you prefer someone change his name so it is easier for you to pronounce? I have two friends whose husbands put on a uniform, carry a weapon and have promised to uphold the law

Keep your eyes on me. It was a very clear command I heard Him give me. Matthew 14:22-31 tells the story of how an ordinary fisherman walked on water. Jesus had sent the disciples ahead of Him—telling them to travel by boat. During the night, the winds picked up and the water was not acting favorably toward the boat and its occupants. At some point during the evening, Jesus decided to catch up to His disciples by walking across the water toward them. Not knowing if they were seeing a ghost, the disciples start shouting at this supernatural figure approaching them. In only the way Jesus could, He reassures them that it’s Him walking toward them.  Peter, in all his boldness, asks Jesus to call him to Him. So Jesus does and Peter walks on water. Then... he takes his eyes off Jesus. The wind is howling. The water is lurching. The tension from the others left in the boat must have been palpable. Confidence gone, he begins to fall through this previously invisible solid and yells ou

I arrive at the airport of life with much anticipation but also with many questions. I wasn’t expecting so many different counters all offering tickets to a final destination. JESHOOTS Pixabay.com Which counter offers a ticket to my perfect final destination and for how much? I wonder... "Excuse me sir," I politely ask, "which counter offers the ticket to the perfect final destination?" "Oh I don’t like discussing the perfect final destination," he gruffly replies. "You must look at all the counters available and decide for yourself which way to go." "Thank you!" I answer, grateful for the logical sounding advice. Upon arriving at the first counter, I read the informational screen at the beginning of the line: Final destination: unknown Price: whatever you think might be enough. Fine print: the actual amount may vary and nothing is guaranteed until you arrive at the gate. I don’t care much for the fine print, I thi