The Tide Always Comes Back
Good Morning!
“Some mornings I jump out of bed (well, not exactly jump—it’s more of a swing), I look out the window, and I say excitedly, “What do you have in mind for us today, Lord?” (I know all too well the truth of the adage, “If you want to hear God laugh, just tell him your plans.”) So I try to remain open to the possibilities the day may hold.”
Encouragement Lifts the Heart
“I have discovered a wonderful career opportunity as an Encourager. The work is fascinating, but it has required me to brush up on my awareness and sensitivity. In my new role I get to point out to my kids, grandkids, friends, public servants, store clerks, and total strangers, something they have done right. This sometimes takes effort, but I am improving.”
The Returning Tide
“I feel some kinship with this untamed force that lunges onto the beach, then retreats to familiar waters to gather strength. There is a lesson to be learned from the waves as they pound the shore with such self-abandon: Life is not always about success; it’s more about mighty endeavor.”
Lessons from the Kitchen
“I wish I had a nickel for every time I heard my father say: “It’s no use crying over spilt milk.” It was a recognition that bad and unpreventable things happen in life, but you don’t get discouraged or give up. No matter what happens, you pick yourself up and keep going.”
Friends
“I met a woman recently whose motto was: “Life is too short to dance with ugly people.” What an amusing reminder that we should surround ourselves with life-enhancing people. Don’t hang out with those who drag you down or make you feel sad.”
Ancient Truths
“I was taught to believe that all our wounds and woes come with blessings attached; that uncovering the blessing is part of the healing. In my search, I found solace in some enduring and irrefutable truths, such as the old Cornish proverb I use as the title of this book.”
The Questioners
“Questioning not only illuminates, it liberates, which is why a totalitarian government resists informing its people. A democracy on the other hand, cannot survive without an informed and participating citizenry ready to question conventional thinking.”
Certainty
“Our core of certitude houses the values and beliefs that we want to hold on to for later use. All that we have found to be true and valuable is lodged there ready to guide us. Once that core is fixed we can accomplish the extraordinary and endure the unimaginable. Without it we are condemned to muddle through life without a point of reference.”
Fretting and Fearing
“Put worry and fear behind you and reach out for what’s ahead. “Press on,” St. Paul declared (Katherine Hepburn’s advice was to “plow on,” but you get the idea.) Don’t fret over your feelings. Trust what you know to be true, not what you feel to be true.”
Weed Removal
“Like a patch of weeds, doubt grows along the edges of faith, trying to push through any cracks that might appear. Daily—sometimes hourly—we decide whether faith or doubt will be allowed to take root in our lives.”
Discarding Childhood Images
“Some of my friends question a deity, who sits on a cloud and hurls down thunderbolts and tsunamis in his spare time. You know, the guy with the long beard, who’s always peering over your should, wagging a divine finger at your misdeeds. Erasing those images is actually a good first step. In doing so they are growing closer to God than they think.”
Mending Moments
“There is an ancient Jewish teaching known as tikkun olam. It means repairing the world—that is, taking responsibility for correcting the damage done by people to each other, as well as to the planet. I like to think that if we can mend a moment in time, perhaps we can mend a millennium. At least, we must try. ”
