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. […]
Category: discipleship
“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 […]
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 […]
Fishing in all weather
There are days I wouldn’t fish off the wall. Though pleasant — blue skies, great views, no crowds — there’s danger afoot. Spring hasn’t sprung, and the water is frigid. Mid-thirties frigid. Which is why we marveled at a rain-slickered man, working his lines, all by himself. It was unsettling. One absent-minded move and all could […]
What it’s like to walk in the Spirit.
When you walk Chicago’s lakefront trail you’re always dodging things. Bikers, beachgoers, volleyballs, dog-walkers, neighborhood picnics — it’s an obstacle course. There’s no danger to it, but you keep your eyes open. That’s why, late last summer, two runners caught our attention. They were tied together at the wrists. The path was packed. There were […]
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