We’ve seen the pictures . . . Jesus, the Good Shepherd, serenely walking along a lush green meadow carrying a young lamb, sheep leisurely following behind. Jesus, walking through crowds, people thronging to be near Him. Jesus . . . always calm, caring, in control. But did He ever get upset? Angry? Sad? Stressed? Yes! Gospel records show us Jesus got angry at injustice. He wept and grieved when His friend Lazarus died. He had to contend with the Pharisees, constantly berating Him for healing people on Sabbath, the “wrong” day of the week. The Son of God was a…
Shabbat Shalom: Finding Rest
There’s no place like home. Home is where you hang your heart. Home is where our story begins. After spending a day in a bustling city, or being gone on a trip, I look forward to returning to the quiet of my home—the surroundings most reflective of who I am, and what I enjoy. Home is an oasis, a place where I step out of the world after a busy day, and am reminded of all I have to be thankful for. Jesus tells us in the world there will be trouble, but He has overcome the world to bring…
When Things Don’t Go As Planned
“We have a flat tire,” my husband R. said, as he carefully guided the family van onto the shoulder of the highway. We had just gotten onto the NY State Thruway when I heard an unmistakable POP, and seconds later a grating noise and THUD THUD THUD. It was Christmas morning and we were about sixty minutes in on our 2½ hour trip to my sister’s house. Awaiting us—if we got there—would be a delicious prime rib dinner and surely a delightful visit. As we all got out and surveyed the damage, thoughts quickly turned to the “what should we…
The Pace Paradox
Why is it the busier we get, the less time we often devote to the one relationship that matters most—God? It’s a phenomenon I call the “pace paradox.” I recently read about studies which reveal that the pace of life worldwide is now 10% faster than it was twenty years ago. Consider this . . . Researchers for this “pace of life” project studied the correlation between time, money and walking in 32 major cities around the world. They clocked how long it took pedestrians to walk 60 feet. Singapore timed the fastest at 10.55 seconds, up 30% from two…
HOPE: Part 3 – The Anchor of Our Souls
The Cher-El-Sue is the name of the family boat on which I spent much of my childhood summers. Refurbished by my father, the 29-foot long wooden cabin cruiser was named after his “girls”—me (Cheryl), my mother (Ellen), and my sister (Susan). We enjoyed frequent trips across Long Island Sound from our home in Mamaroneck, in the suburbs of New York City, to Port Jefferson on the north shore of Long Island. Often we slept overnight on the boat. I recall one particular night when I was five or six years old that we encountered a severe thunderstorm while out on…
