Russellings of the Spirit

Latest Posts

  • The Power to Change

    “You have heard that it was said, ‘You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.’ But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you…” (Matthew 5:43, NRSV). I never did like Donnie Avery much.  He was… Continue reading

  • Listening to the Dogs, Part III – Take a Break

    As I might have mentioned here before, our dogs – Patrick and Rosie – are Soft-Coated Wheaten Terriers. Like most dogs of the Terrier class, they are VERY energetic extroverts. Here is a quick little blurb from the American Kennel Club… Continue reading

  • Listening to the Dogs, Part II: Paying Attention

    This is our dog, Patrick. Patrick is a four-and-a-half-year-old Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier. He is the father of our other Wheaten, Rosie girl.  Our nickname for Patrick is “Ever Vigilant.” We gave him that name because nothing… NOTHING… escapes Patrick’s notice.… Continue reading

  • Listening to the Dogs

    Today, Joan and I will be spending a lot of time with the dogs.  Given the events of this day, Tuesday, November 3, 2020, it seems like a wise idea. We will be walking them, yes. Also playing with them,… Continue reading

  • Thanks, Mom

    “If everyone else jumped off a cliff, would you jump off too???” If I had a dollar for every time my mother spoke that phrase, I’d probably have… I don’t know… eleven or twelve dollars.  This was her standard, go-to… Continue reading

  • Standing Guard

    I may have mentioned this before, but here in the northern Colorado part of the U.S., we are dealing with some pretty nasty forest fires at the moment. No one is quite sure how they started, but they have been… Continue reading

  • Is it worth it?

    It is no exaggeration to say that this is one of the most important presidential elections this country has ever seen. This election is much more than a contest between two different men or two different political parties.  It is… Continue reading

  • Happy birthday, Andy

    Yesterday was Andy’s birthday. His first 39 birthdays were celebrated here on earth. The last three have been celebrated in Andy’s new, celestial home.  Having the good fortune to be born exactly halfway between them, Andy was a childhood friend… Continue reading

  • Finding the Quiet Center

    Let’s see… A new place to call home, A global pandemic, A chaotic, topsy, turvy, absolutely wack-a-doodle political scene, Streets filled with people protesting against racial injustice,  A record-breaking wildfire burning eight-and-a-half miles from the city limits of my new community, A… Continue reading

  • Beware the sinister sort!

    I apologize if this question is too personal, but I am going to forge ahead and ask it anyway: how is your memory? I ask because I find that mine is betraying me more these days than it ever has.… Continue reading