Marilyn R. Gardner's Blog, page 54
September 6, 2016
“Give Your Pen to Me”
Our public world is not the way to define our relationship with God. Who we are is defined when no one is looking. –Jennie Allen “Give your pen to me” he says. I slowly hand it over, unsure as to whether I really want to. He is gentle with me, but daily I [...]
September 5, 2016
Everyone Has a Story
It came up again this weekend: the ‘where are you from?’ conversation. The conversation starter that has third culture kid’s squirming and sweating, eager to leave the room and the conversation. A while back Cecily Thew over at Cecily.Mostly talked about laughing at a statement in the book To Sell is Human by Daniel H. [...]
September 2, 2016
We Had a Prayer Meeting
Love is willing to step into the places that feel uncertain, awkward, and vulnerable for the great cause of unity and reconciliation.
September 1, 2016
Until Next Time
His eyes are so much like his mom’s that I am startled. He nestles into my shoulder, knowing that I’m not his mom, but that somehow – I am safe. I stare and stare and I have no concept of time. I realize that I could stare at this wonder all day. This wonder is [...]
August 30, 2016
We can Celebrate!
When my husband was little, his mom looked at herboys (four at the time) and said: “Pick your cake and stick with it!” So each of them picked a favorite cake and every year, that was the cake they had on their birthdays. It was a wise move for a woman who had four boys [...]
August 29, 2016
“This is Real”
The movie A Beautiful Mind is based on the story of a brilliant mathematician, John Nash. Nash is as arrogant as he is brilliant, but that changes as he goes through an excruciating process of being diagnosed as a schizophrenic. The mind that served him so well betrays him and he is left wondering what [...]
August 28, 2016
The Resilient Orthodox – Breathe in Holy
As I step into church, I breathe in pungent, sweet incense. I can see smoke rise in front of evening shadows on the wall. Fading light reflects off of gold and burgundy icons. I take a deep breath and I breathe in holy. I breathe it in, mywhole beingalive to incense and all that accompanies [...]
August 26, 2016
Hospitable Me
One of the sweet daily habits of our marriage is that Lowell makes the bed. When we first got married and he was still dew eyed and love drunk he asked me what the one household task that I least liked was. I didn’t hesitate. I hate making the bed. I love a made bed [...]
August 25, 2016
The Cup of Mediocrity
“I would rather die of thirst than drink from the cup of mediocrity” A number ofyears ago, this slogan from Stella Artois brewing company hung on our kitchen cupboard. It stayed there for at least four years. It captured the essence of what we felt life should be – a striving for adventure, discovery, excellence, [...]
August 23, 2016
“I’ve Always Been a Good Girl”
“I’ve always been a good girl.” I couldn’t help overhearing the woman at the table next to me. I was sitting outside at a coffee shop. Sound carries, and though I had no intention of eavesdropping, the phrase stuck with me. Her voice shook slightly and I could hear the angst. I thought about all [...]
