The tempests of life don’t always surprise us. Some we’ve faced before, and we often see them coming. When that’s the case, it helps to remember the experience. There’s an episode in Patrick O’Brian’s The Wine-Dark Sea that features four common stages of a storm. Though no two trials are identical, these stages rang true for me. […]
Author: Paul Santhouse
I am a follower of Jesus Christ. I’m also a husband, father, and grandpa. Since I spent four decades working with books, and I believe the local church is where we become the kind of people Jesus would be in our shoes, that's mostly what this blog is about.
Thanks for visiting.
Paul
“Greatness Rather Than Promise”
“His third symphony revealed greatness rather than promise.” This was how the concert program introduced Carl August Nielsen, the Danish composer whose symphony we were enjoying. Rigorous aspirations are crucial to growth, but they also take time and repetition to master. It’s why cellists practice, pilots up their skills on simulators, writers rewrite, doctors pursue […]
Love & Hurricanes
Hurricanes arrive long before their arrival. The National Hurricane Center keeps vigil, tracking all threats before they get close. So do the news and weather channels, social media platforms, and every state and county in the path of the storm. This is called love. It’s those who know caring for the rest of us who […]
The value of valuable.
Gemstones fluctuate in value. A breathtaking engagement ring with a large diamond was worth more before synthetic diamonds entered the market. Its significance endures, but it no longer costs two months of wages. Even food, which is essential to life, is devalued by abundance. When we have more than enough, we discard it. If value […]
Aspiration or Calling
We all feature an aspirational side — the vision to be or achieve something. Aspiration adds lift to any endeavor, and often fuels sacrifice. On the flip side, calling suggests a responsibility to do or become something. You’re holding the baton and it’s up to you. Biblical history overflows with calling. Noah was called to build the ark, which […]
