I never dreamed it would arrive so soon, but last week brought a rude awakening. I spent some time weeding our slope filled with ice plant, palms, society garlic, a crepe myrtle, a good-sized camphor tree, and ample undesired grass and dandelions. After, I grabbed a Baldacci novel and a beer and plopped down in front of our waterfall and pond. On the right, a lizard did pushups on a sun-warmed rock, and a small yellow-breasted bird swooped into the stream for a sip and a bath. Then, without conscious intent, I looked down at my calf, crossed on my other leg, and reality hit me. Yeah, the pic above. The skin rippled with wrinkles like the sand on the beach after a receding wave. Before…
Read MoreSecrets of a Serene Spirit
In a surprise twist, I re-learned the secrets of a serene spirit at a recent memorial service. I met with the family before, and they detailed a very difficult life for their mother Darlene. When just 16, a car accident not only killed the driver in her car, but injured her badly, including the loss of all her teeth. She married three times, and each husband died. Humorously, she wouldn’t marry her longtime boyfriend—she wanted to keep him alive. She lost a young son, one of the most difficult losses when your child dies young. But…
Read MoreConsequences of Easter
We’re still in the afterglow of Easter, Good Friday, and Maundy Thursday. But to truly celebrate these, we need to realize the significance of the most neglected day: Maundy Thursday, the Passover meal that Jesus shared with his followers before the spiritual thunderstorm of Friday and Sunday erupted. That meal has become communion, the Lord’s supper, the eucharist: some bread and wine to remind us of Jesus’ sacrifice. But two dear Christian friends, Cecil Murphey and E Wayne Kempton, combined to change my view. First, here’s an…
Read MoreWhen I Cause You Pain
As we approach Easter, let’s ponder the why. Mel Gibson’s movie “The Passion of the Christ” depicted the physical torment Jesus went through, but I think he missed the bigger point. A broken heart. To prepare your minds and hearts for the weekend as we celebrate the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus, please read the fresh approach where we examine….
Read MoreGiving God Pleasure?
Learning more about God intrigues me: his nature, his heart, and all. Just this week a Facebook discussion explored how God gives us pleasure, which at a minimum means pleasure can be very good. Yes, we can misuse it, but at the core, experiencing pleasure is a grace touch from our Lord. I opened my Online Bible concordance to discover what HE says about it. I found around 80 mentions of mankind and God and pleasure. So being who I am, I…
Read MoreI Love Jesus, Not Sure about the Church
Fairly recent research says America may have more self-declared Christians outside the church than in it. I get that, for a multitude of reasons, and level of commitment certainly is one. Loving Jesus can be nice yet undemanding. Church involvement takes loving Jesus to a more involved level. Jesus attracts people, sometimes churches do not. But I came across a stat that troubles me. George Barna’s research, written about in “Faith and Christianity” on March 30, 2017, went a bit deeper…
Read MoreSometimes You Win, Sometimes...
Some locals claim the upper Sacramento River, right under the I-5 bridge in Dunsmuir, may yield the best trout fishing in California. Pines creep right down to the water’s edge of the gorgeous stream, yet leave enough space to cast and still not get hung up. Too often, at least.
Wild blackberries give ample reason to study the river, and large boulders in the 20-yard width provide holes for the trout. The rumble of nearby freight trains adds a sense of timelessness.
I’m not sure about the quality of fishing, but I did come to doubt the fisherman’s rationale, “The worst day fishing beats the best day working.” I’d caught…
Read MoreHow Easy Got His Groove Back—By Listening
I’ve enjoyed every bike I’ve owned, but my Honda ST1300 topped the list—a sport touring bike that was nimble around town and great on long rides. Carving mountain curves on it always caused a smile. But upon entering my 70s, I realized a less aggressive bike might keep me upright—and alive. Enter the Honda Goldwing above, with unsurpassed comfort and protection from rain and cold and heat. A great bike—except for…
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