When I was a kid, Labyrinth was a movie that I found scary. I didn’t know there were actual walking labyrinths that people used to get closer to God. I didn’t grow up in a denomination that promoted creativity in spirituality, so the first time I walked a labyrinth, I was in a state of…

When I was a kid, digital radio dials were just barely coming on the scene. I still remember adjusting antennas and dials to get just the right song coming out of the speakers. I learned that if I stood in one part of the house, I could use my radio more efficiently than other times….

When I have the bandwidth, I open myself to recognize the presence of the Holy Spirit. She is always around, and in my life, she is often a smart aleck. I know the Holy Spirit is always with me because in the Bible, Jesus tells us so. John 14:16-17 “And I will ask the Father,…

Hundreds of years ago, the ancient philosopher Socrates said, “Know thyself.” Lamentations 3:40 says, “Let us test and examine our ways and return to the Lord.” Romans 12:3, “For by the grace given to me I say to everyone among you not to think of yourself more highly than you ought to think but to…

I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. —2 Timothy 1:5 My maternal grandmother was born in the Depression. This fact has affected her entire life. She’s a saver of food and coupons. She taught…

In this age of social media, I am often aware of a Fear of Missing Out, or FOMO. If I’m not recognizing the feeling in others, I’m recognizing it in myself. Scrolling through social media can make me feel like I’d rather be there than here. So and so seems to be having so much…

When I was a kid, my family enjoyed watching The Addams Family on TV. The show centered on a family that was full of misfits: parents Gomez and Morticia Addams, their children Wednesday and Pugsley, close family members Uncle Fester and Grandmama, their butler Lurch, and Pugsley’s pet octopus, Aristotle. The schtick of the show…

Since I was a child, I have had large feet. My feet grew longer faster than I grew taller. There was a time when my foot to height ratio was especially awkward. I became ashamed of my feet at a very young age. They are big. They are shaped funny. I trip over them constantly….

In journalism school, we learned how to ask questions that opened up conversations instead of shutting them down. We were trained to avoid leading questions and to enter conversations with open minds. You never want to assume you know what people want to share with you. Asking only open-ended questions allows the speaker to direct…

Space for Grace is a monthly faith-based group focused on supporting caregivers. The next meetings are Wednesday, Feb. 9 and Wednesday, March 9 at 7 p.m. in the Bride’s Room (W120). For several years, FUMC Hurst has offered a caregiver support group called Space for Grace. This group meets monthly in room W120. The world…

Laugh Possum is a great game for turning frustration or grumpiness into joy. The kids might have been uncomfortable in the car or hungry or tired, but nothing ever matters when Laugh Possum commences. By the end of the first round, the entire family is overflowing with laughter.