Month: June 2015

If I keep a green bough in my heart, will the singing bird always come?

June 20, 2015

There is a Chinese proverb that says, “If you keep a green bough in your heart, the singing bird will come.” It’s a lovely expression of hope and open-heartedness. But it’s one of those inspirational thoughts that sometimes evoke in me a slight “niggling” feeling. Something doesn’t sit quite right. Or, at least, it may not sit … More If I keep a green bough in my heart, will the singing bird always come?

Why did I name my shop “Sadie’s Bethel Beadery”? Or, do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with an original name for an Etsy shop?

June 15, 2015

When I was a pastor one of the most difficult and unrewarding parts of preaching was coming up with a sermon title. (So I stopped giving them titles. Problem solved.) When I was setting up my Etsy shop I must have tried out a dozen clever shop names — Beauty and the Beads, Art and … More Why did I name my shop “Sadie’s Bethel Beadery”? Or, do you have any idea how hard it is to come up with an original name for an Etsy shop?

“Beauty will save the world.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky

June 15, 2015

I’m of an age (65) where looking back over my life can take a while. So many years. So many different residences (8 states) and family configurations. And so many vocations: secretary, editor, college professor, experimental psychologist, writer, pastor, spiritual director, church bureaucrat…. Did I really do all those different things? And WHY? Was I just … More “Beauty will save the world.” — Fyodor Dostoevsky