Posts
Making Sense of it All
“It doesn’t have to make sense, it has to make faith.” I was in a small group discussion where one of the ladies was relaying a conversation she had with a pastor. As someone who likes to make sense of everything, I was struck by this point. Sometimes things would be easier to endure if…
Some Things are Worth Repeating
Instant replays. Silly jokes. Favorite stories. Oh sure, we may roll our eyes at the 200th telling… unless of course we’re the one doing the telling. When you’re reminiscing with a friend, the stories just get better with age. The memory can take you back until you can see it, taste it, feel it. The…
A Tale of Two Spreadsheets
God will use whatever is at hand to instruct us. Last month I mentioned I’ve been spending an inordinate amount of time detailing spreadsheets. So I should have expected that my next lesson would come through a spreadsheet. It was another Friday evening and we were in the final crunch of a major event. I…
For Want of a Spreadsheet
It was a Friday evening and I was staring between two spreadsheets. It was like one of those children’s picture challenges where you’re supposed to find what’s different, only in this case the spreadsheets were supposed to match. Trying to find the difference was anything but fun. “Is this really all I have to show…
Today’s Forecast: Stormy with a Chance of Patience
Here in New England we have a saying: If you don’t like the weather, wait a minute. It will change. When I moved to the Midwest, I learned they have the same saying. And it’s true. I’ve seen the temperature flip from near 80 to below freezing in a matter of hours. I’ve witnessed rain,…
Crazed. Or Not. Finding Balance in the Midst of Extremes.
There is a good kind of stress. If you’ve always thought of stress as a four letter word in the plural, then this may come as a surprise. But it’s true. It’s even reasonable, once I stopped to consider it. An environment with absolutely no stress is an environment void of stimulation or purpose. As…
How I Started Recycling: An analogy of our Father’s method for change
I recycle because I have a friend who recycles. I mean, I have a friend who recycles. She carries a bag with her when she goes on walks simply so she can pick up trash. When she comes to visit, she brings me all the recyclables she can’t recycle in her own town, because my town…
One Thing I Do: Forgiveness
Reflecting on this, I had a thought that was revelatory to me: forgiveness brings healing; it does not undo what happened.
Oh Well
It was not a new joke. And it was not funny the first 400 times I heard it. Then one day, years later, the unthinkable happened.
An Act in Due Season
before you start thinking this is just another cute puppy story, let me stop you right there. During this valentine’s season when so much attention is placed on the emotion of love, let me suggest we place some attention on the practicality of love.
Search the Blog
Categories
Join the email list to receive the latest post and occasional exclusives
Meet Janet!
Janet Beagle, PhD is the founder of The Mustard Patch. She divides her time between the Midwest and New England, and if she’s not writing, she’s probably out hiking with her 2-and 4-footed friends.