13 Hours of Rain

One of my favorite times with my daughter is just before I place her in the crib for the night. Her night time routine is coming to a close. She has been bathed, dressed, and fed. I have read her a bedtime story. The lights are dimmed and I sing her various lullabies. She rests against me, content. Sometimes she sucks her left thumb and caresses my arm with her right hand. Sometimes she drifts off to sleep. And sometimes she gives a soft cry which usually indicates, "Mommy, I tired... just put me in my crib." Then, after blessing her with a prayer, she falls asleep while she snuggles with her blankets. (Though there are some rare evenings, like tonight, when she fusses for long time before falling asleep.) A few hours later, after the evening tasks are completed, my husband and I quietly sneak into her room and watch her sleep for a few moments. We usually place our hands on her chest to feel her steady breathing. We can't help but smile and murmur, "She is beautifu...

Lately, I have been reading The Myth of Certainty by Daniel Taylor before I retire for the evening. The book is expository in nature and easy to read. However, there are times I can only read a few paragraphs due to the author's depth of writing. Last night I encountered the following two paragraphs: "No significant area of life is free from risk. It is a key ingredient in every accomplishment and every relationship. Whenever a decision is required, there is risk. Wherever we must act, there is risk. Wherever people intertwine their lives, there is risk. Should we expect it to be any different in our relationship with transcendence? Why should we insist on being certain about God, on having proof of His existence, or on having unmistakable absolutes on which to build a faith when none of these is compatible with being the finite creatures God has created? If risk is...at heart of all meaningful relationships between people, then we should not be chagrined or embarrassed to fi...

I did it. I started a blog. I fought the temptation for a long time. But I have succumbed to the pull of virtual reality. I know... this is not like me. I'm a quasi-Luddite. I am often suspect of technological advancements. I get very annoyed when industry forces humans to consume its products. We are pushed to buy the next gadget because the old one isn't available anymore and the new one is touted to be superior. Our nation keeps on buying, consuming, and throwing used goods in the nearest landfill. Yet, I've started a blog. Why? Good question... In many ways, a blog goes against my nature. Here I am, alone, at a lap top, typing away a message to who knows who. Someone may read it. Yet, for all I know, my thoughts will become electrical impulses reverberating in a digital world without any REAL person ever giving my introspection a second glance. Hey, I rather get together with a friend in real time and space and muse about life over a cup of coffee. However, connecting w...