Cathy's Blog

The fog hung heavily in the air. The dense white air blurred everything but a few feet in front of my car. I proceeded cautiously along the one-lane road, paying close attention to the reflectors embedded in the pavement. Sometimes life can feel like that, can’t it when you are struggling to make difficult decisions. But you can negotiate successfully through the fog of your challenge. What happened next, on that trip, prompted me to think about how to get through a foggy challenge successfully.   The Danger of Navigating in the Fog Red lights glowed through the fog, slowing my speed even more. I noticed a brave firefighter, barely visible standing in the roadway directing ... read more

I slammed the phone down on the table and walked away, frustration seething inside me. A broken piece of office equipment, dead before its time! Minutes later, however, I was more disappointed in myself than the unresponsive printer. I had allowed myself to be drawn into a vortex of negative thoughts - again. But then I realized something that is true, not just for me.  We are free to leave it all behind.   Free to Start Again Free to begin again, to have a fresh start. Do you ever feel like I did? You find yourself in a messy situation that you do not like. Because you have reacted according to an old script? But, I can choose to walk away from following old patterns ... read more

I walked slowly to the car, the dark parking lot echoing my mood. Behind me, light spilled from the church hall. The sound of laughter haunted me as I slid into the car. My loneliness grew a little deeper as I closed the door. Why was this happening? But I now know the question I should have asked. What if it's not rejection, but God's protection. I attended the women’s event hoping to make friends in our new church.  But my efforts at talking with people failed miserably.  I was greeted by polite brief responses followed by the person’s rapid retreat. My face burned with the shame of rejection. This was not the antidote to loneliness I expected.   A tropical storm is ... read more

In the middle of a long road trip, desperate for coffee, I stumbled into a McDonald’s, never anticipating what would happen. Conversation stopped, heads turned, and eyes locked on me with laser focus. The message screamed: I was not welcome in this small-town gathering spot. Have you felt like that – unwelcomed, or even unwanted? The truth is you are more than welcome here. More Than Welcomed – From Before the Beginning Our earthly families, friends, colleagues, or even strangers may make us feel unwelcome. But God chose us before the foundations of the world. I admit this truth is so astounding it’s taking me time to understand. These verses explain what I mean: “Long ... read more

One thing the last few months has taught me is that major change can come quickly and with little warning. I have been through a lot of change before this – and I am sure you have too. But this one has made me consider how can I best prepare for unwanted change, spiritually. So, here are four steps to enrich your spiritual resources. We have lived in several places that are the home to “active weather” seasons. Focusing on both what our needs would be at the time of the storm and for a short while after we planned and prepared. We had a way to gather, and we had a safe place to shelter. Supplies were placed in water-resistant containers. Everyone knew where they were – they were ... read more