Russellings of the Spirit

Latest Posts

  • No magic wand

    Have you ever played the “magic wand” game? That’s the game where someone says to you, “If you could wave a magic wand and change ONE THING about your life, what would it be?” If you are anything like me,… Continue reading

  • Outside in

    Here where I live, today is a good day to be inside. Though it is bright and sunny, it is also cold… like 25 degrees cold. And so even as I practice gratitude for my ability to be sheltered from… Continue reading

  • My Tribe

    “Where are you from?” It used to be such a simple question… with an equally simple answer. People asked it as a way of understanding a little bit more about what made you tick. I used to envy people who… Continue reading

  • “Nope. Not you.”

    Rejection hurts. “Don’t take it personally,” they say. But sometimes personally is the only way you can take it. It’s like the time I was cut from the eighth-grade basketball team. The first three practices were the tryouts. The day after… Continue reading

  • This Old Table

    And so it begins. Earlier today Joan and I bid a fond farewell to the lovely distressed barnwood table (and six matching chairs) as it was toted out of our breakfast room. So many meals around that table. So many… Continue reading

  • GLOW

    My wife GLOWs. Every fourth Thursday of the month. From 5:30 to 7:00. And because she GLOWs, we glow (and grow) together as a family. You see, GLOW is the name of the women’s cancer support group Joan attends at… Continue reading

  • Go Do Love

    Yesterday at church I heard an inspiring sermon. The pastor challenged me (well, all of us actually) to make an intentional practice of acknowledging the many-layered, complex, rich, and vibrant nature of every person we meet. She told us that… Continue reading

  • Dragon Slayer

    Last night Joan and I took a brisk, 40-minute drive over to Lawrence, Kansas. Lawrence, as I am sure you all know, is the home of the University of Kansas. The purpose of our trip, however, had nothing to do… Continue reading

  • Dueling Drives

    How often do you find yourself caught between a pair of strong, yet diametrically opposed desires? For example: Have cake? Eat cake? Exercise body? Veg out? Shave? Cultivate trendy stubble? Spend? Save? Blog? Think about blogging? Rock? Hard place? This… Continue reading

  • Celebrating Women in Ministry

    From watching the TODAY Show this morning, I learned that today – October 11 – is the International Day of the Girl. Seems like something I should have known already. I hope you won’t take offense at being called girls,… Continue reading