Victory Cry

There will probably never be an end to the stories pulled from the rubble of 9-11 --- stories of brave men who shouldered people in wheelchairs down a hundred flights of stairs, or ferrymen who swallowed smoke to sail crowds safely off the island, or a woman who kept her head and stayed on the … Continue reading Victory Cry

The Butcher’s Violin

A True Story from Home There it was, lying in a black case on the quilt like a closed casket.  “Well, open it,” she said quietly.  I unhitched the clasps and cracked it open to see a dark violin lying in green velvet. It was coated in dust and rosin, its strings were frayed, and … Continue reading The Butcher’s Violin

The Concertmaster

The college theater was dim last Friday night, and the musicians played Brahms in andante, which means it was soft and low. I would’ve drifted to sleep it hadn’t been so beautiful. The concertmaster from the St. Louis Symphony Orchestra was visiting our little town, and I wasn’t about to miss watching him vibrato each … Continue reading The Concertmaster

Winter In Her Womb

A True Story from Home It happens every eight seconds, they say, but it’s no less weird and wonderful. I’ve never seen a baby be born, but my big sister has— twelve of them, actually. She earned her birth assistant’s certificate because she’d grown up the oldest sister, the babysitter, the Meg March of the … Continue reading Winter In Her Womb

Psalm 30 (In Modern Language)

September 8 Eugene Peterson is a master with words and this week, I’ve been enjoying his modern interpretation of the Psalms. It’s an honest, fearless, worshipful message inspired by Scripture’s truth: God, my God, I yelled for help And you put me together. God, you pulled me out of the grave, Gave me another chance … Continue reading Psalm 30 (In Modern Language)

A Song for Contentment

December 2 As I’ve thought more about contentment lately, especially with Christmas approaching, a song came to mind. It’s called Simple Living (A Rich Young Man) by Keith and Kristyn Getty. The song narrates two instances where Jesus addresses wealthy men and the worthlessness of riches. My favorite verse is the third one, which poetically … Continue reading A Song for Contentment