Cuckoos are one of the species that lays its eggs in other birds' nests. A non-Cuckoo incubates the Cuckoo egg. When the baby cuckoo hatches, it demands the lion’s share of the food. It also has a tendency to push out the other babies. As a result, the mother bird wastes her energy raising a... Continue Reading →
Grasping at boards as I fell
When I was around four, my father had a sailboat that he had started building while in Japan. Now, it was in dry dock in Berkeley in order to finish equipping the yacht. As he worked he let us play on the craft. It had no rails yet, so one time as my older brother,... Continue Reading →
A Fruitless Branch
Looking at the branches that have fallen from the trees in our front yard, I think about how fragile the branches of trees are, as with just one strong gust of wind, they can be disconnected from the tree that provides them life-giving substance. They lie on the ground, unable to right themselves and return... Continue Reading →
And Life Continues
Today, the oldest daughter of my late son, Malcolm, gave birth to a baby boy, and she named him, Malachi Dewayne, a slightly different first name but the same middle name. The picture I received of young Malachi touched my heart and sent it reeling in joy and thankfulness. I also cried today, and as... Continue Reading →
The Opposite of Addiction
A National Public Radio (NPR) program reminded me of when I sat in my apartment feeling depressed. I was struggling with college courses, getting behind, and cutting myself off from my college friends because seeing them reminded me that I wasn’t getting the work done. Being cut off just put me into a deeper depression.... Continue Reading →
Climbing Out of the Darkness
I have dark days. My husband can sometimes detect that something is off with me, but, more likely, I have to tell him that I am having a bad day, and that I need to be left alone to deal with it. I still shop, clean, and do my job. I just feel like I... Continue Reading →
Hindering God’s Healing
I was talking with some Hindus about Christianity. They were excited that a Christian group was coming to town and holding a healing service. Listening, I realized that it was it was one of those that preached that you had to come to them because they had something special. I wasn’t sure what. It could... Continue Reading →
The Fatal Flaw
The church was saddened by the news that Mr Smith had died of a heart attack. They asked, “Why did this happen. He was only 40 and he was the head of the youth Sunday School. He had made it something that Middle Schoolers and High Schoolers were excited to attend. He loved God deeply... Continue Reading →
The Healing Power of Water
I grew up in a city, with no water anywhere around me, except for the swimming pool at the park near my house. I never learned to swim, although I made an aborted effort to learn when I was age 52. As long as I was floating with my hands on the wall of the... Continue Reading →
2 X 4 Listening
It grieved me to hear that Sharon wasn’t returning to school this year. I soon was talking to my friends in the dorm about the sad situation. Soon we trotted over to the women’s dorm to discuss the bad decision Sharon had made. Soon I had everyone in an uproar. It wasn’t until I spotted... Continue Reading →
