Honorable Excuses Blogs

We are once again in the Lenten season, and as I prepare for my time in prayer and fasting, a sweet memory comes to mind from my experience as an 8-year-old trying to wrap my head around the “why” of Lent. My family labeled me as “precocious” when I was young. I am pretty sure they said that before there was a diagnosis for ADHD in the DSM-5. I was full of energy, made up stories, and oblivious to being a normal little girl in 1964. The Sisters who taught me might have seen t

You would think a calling from God, his breath infusing my story, would be enough. I am once again fighting the fear of an unknown threat. I have a list of goals outlined in scarlet ink running down the page—tasks I want to accomplish to complete the next step along the journey. I have a design appointment for my first memoir coming up, and there is still so much to do. Why do some people embrace and complete the dream with fearless gusto, while I still take each step up the

Serving from our giftedness, filled with grace, fuels our God story and plants us in purpose. Reflecting on the times I have ignored God's invitation, I have eased my conviction by thinking of Moses. He and I shared common ground. We both wanted to do God's will, but in a moment of panic, we suggested He pick someone else. Moses told God his brother would do a better job speaking for Him because he was a priest, and Moses was, well, a murderer. Burdened by shame and low self-

Unfortunately, I was convinced the source of all my misery was the very entity they were suggesting I give myself up to willingly, God. Alcoholics Anonymous calls it the “Third Step Prayer”.  A plea to be released from the bondage of self so that I could be of better service to others. To do this, I had to willingly turn my life over to the care of God as I understood him. (Alcoholics Anonymous, 2001) The words stacked up one upon the other, creating a roadblock of thoughts.