I was talking to a friend today about living in America versus other countries. We definitely have had a lot of freedoms and privileges growing up here. But, if you have an opportunity to live in another country for a period of time, as I have, you begin to realize that there are blessings and... Continue Reading →
Robots Meeting Needs?
The other day I read an article about a robot that was helping in Dutch retirement communities. The retirees are led by the robot in their daily exercises and it keeps them company through one on one conversations. As I read on, the article explained that family members didn't have time to visit and care for the retirees, so the robot was... Continue Reading →
Is it Really as You Think it is?
When we think of growing older sometimes we think of grumpy old men (or women) who are so set in their ways there is no amount of arguing or persuasion that will change how they look at things. In one sense it is expected because of all the years of life they've lived, you would think... Continue Reading →
What Leads Our Reponses?
Up on the wall in my third grader's classroom is the "word of the week", visceral. The definition given to my daughter and her class mates is "characterized by or proceeding from instinct rather than intellect". I'm not sure how a third grader grasps the understanding of this word, but it sure caught my attention.... Continue Reading →
A Good Broken
While meeting with my mentor the other day I mentioned to her that it feels like I’ve learned a lot over the last 19 years since my first husband died, but it has come through brokenness. I asked her if I’m just a really stubborn person that has to be broken in order to grow and others... Continue Reading →
A Circle of Quiet
The title I chose for this post is the same title for Madelein L’Engle’s book written in 1972 that I recently purchased for a friend in Powell’s Bookstore in Portland. I love that title, don’t you? It sounds so peaceful, so serene, so needed. Don’t we all need a circle of quiet every once in a... Continue Reading →
Stories that Change Lives
On Sunday in church a friend of ours shared his story of escaping from Laos as a young boy and eventually becoming a sponsored Compassion child. The sacrifice that his sponsors made for him radically changed his life. His is a powerful story that compels people to sponsor a child with the hope that their... Continue Reading →
Jill Johnson 