A Keen Perspective

As I read Brent Gleeson's book " Embrace the Suck: The Navy Seal Way To An Extraordinary Life ," I was confronted with some tough questions: What do I value most in life? What is my ultimate purpose? My why? What is my plan for fulfilling that purpose? Click the book to reach my Amazon Affiliate Link, where I earn a small commission, at no added cost to you. At first, I thought, "Uh, good questions... um... _crickets_." But as I reflected on my life, which has taken some dramatic turns recently, I started to gain some clarity. What do I value most? Easy peasy: my relationship with God, my boys (aka my giant teen sons - yes, they're now taller than me!), my friends, and my church family. Those are my people, and I'd move mountains for them. What's my ultimate purpose? Loving God and loving others in a way that brings hope to the world. Yep, that's our church motto, and I'm sticking to it! Now, my why... Ah, my why used to be simple: my boys. T...

Sarah, the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac, is often held up as a model of submission in Christian circles. But scratch beneath the surface, and you'll find a more complex story - one that warns us of the dangers of unconditional submission. The Risks of Unconditional Submission When Sarah submitted to Abraham's request to pretend to be his sister, she put herself in a vulnerable position. As a woman in a foreign land, without the protection of her own family or community, she was at risk of:      - Sexual exploitation: Pharaoh and Abimelech, the kings who took her into their palaces, likely expected to have sexual relations with her. This would have been a traumatic experience for Sarah.      - Emotional manipulation: By pretending to be Abraham's sister, Sarah may have been forced to play a role that compromised her own identity and autonomy.      - Loss of agency: By following Abraham's plan, Sarah relinquished control over her own l...

 In a world where submission is often seen as the ultimate virtue for women, Queen Vashti dared to be different. This ancient Persian queen refused to be paraded in front of her husband's drunken friends, and in doing so, became an unlikely hero for modern women everywhere. Let's set the scene: King Ahasuerus (aka Xerxes) was throwing a lavish party, and he wanted to show off his queen's beauty to impress his guests with his own prestige and masculinity. But Vashti was like, "Uh, no thanks. I'm good." And with that, she became the first recorded queen to give her husband the old "talk to the hand." You know, that classic move where you dismiss someone with a flick of the wrist and a whole lot of sass. Funny thing is, my soon-to-be ex used to tell me to "talk to the hand" all the time. I guess he didn't realize he was actually training me in the ancient art of Vashti-style assertiveness!  Now, some might say Vashti was disobedient or reb...

As I drove down the road today, I witnessed a tragic event that made me pause and ponder the fleeting nature of life. An oncoming car struck a squirrel who was scurrying out to gather some nuts that had fallen from an overhead tree. In less than a blink of an eye, the squirrel's life was extinguished. Talk about a nutty reminder of our mortality! It hit me (pun intended): we're all just like that squirrel, busily scurrying around, trying to gather our own "nuts" - whether that's wealth, success, or happiness. But in a split second, our lives can change forever. As the Bible says, "Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes." (James 4:14) But here's the thing: while we can't control the length of our lives, we can control how we live them. So, let's not get too caught up in chasing after nuts (okay, I'll stop with the squirrel analogies now, I pro...

As I sat watching Autumn in New York , a movie starring Richard Gere and Winona Ryder, one line resonated deeply with me: "I love food because it's the only beautiful thing that nourishes." But it was another theme that struck a chord - the risk of loving others when there's the possibility of losing them. By clicking on the picture, I earn a small commission if you purchase through Amazon. Will Keane, played by Richard Gere, is a man who has built walls around his heart, afraid to love again after past hurts. I understand that fear intimately. After 33 years of marriage, I'm now navigating the treacherous waters of separation and divorce. The thought of loving again seems daunting, even terrifying. But as I reflect on my journey, I realize that the fear of loving again is also a fear of loving myself. For so long, I defined myself through my relationship, my role as a partner, and my identity as a wife. Now, I'm forced to confront the question: who am I outs...

 As a single mom, I've learned to rely on God's strength and provision.  2 Corinthians 9:7, says, "Each of you should give what you have decided in your heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." This verse has become my mantra as I work tirelessly to provide for my family. My days are filled with a 9-to-5 job, three side businesses, and maintaining our home and large garden. It's not uncommon for me to put in 12-hour days, six days a week. But despite the exhaustion, I find joy in knowing that I'm giving my best to provide for my loved ones. Recently, someone close to me doubted my capabilities, saying I wasn't capable of handling it all. But I know the truth - God has equipped me with strength, resilience, and determination. I choose to focus on His promises rather than negative opinions. In the midst of chaos, I've discovered joy in the simple things: a home-cooked meal, a beautiful sunset, or a child's ...