Devotionals

Steve Irwin, aka “The Crocodile Hunter,” was a zookeeper and popular television personality that would physically handle venomous snakes, crocodiles and other dangerous animals.  With his thick Australian accent he was famous for shouting “Crikey!” as he approached them.  Despite being a renowned animal expert, Irwin sustained an injury from a stingray while filming an underwater documentary that led to his death.  What makes [...]

A trend in social media is to post messages about getting “toxic” people out your life.  Examples include, “When the wrong people leave your life, the right things start to happen.”  Or, “Don’t be afraid to burn a few bridges in order to stop the drama from following you.”  And, “Toxic people will pollute everything around them.  Don’t hesitate.  Fumigate.” Presumably it’s well-intentioned and, [...]

Dubbing it “death with dignity,” there are currently ten jurisdictions in the United States in which euthanasia (assisted suicide) is legal.  14 states have abortion policies that are rated “protective,” “very protective” or “most protective” of the practice.  The most protective state funds abortions without even involving a physician.  What’s more, 21 states have laws and policies that are considered “medium to highly supportive” of LGBTQ causes.  Seven [...]

To “muse” is to reflect, ponder or otherwise be absorbed in thought.  Conversely, a-muse is to “divert the attention, beguile, delude” according to the Etymology Dictionary.  That is to say that amusement is the absence of thinking.  The sad truth is that one of the easiest ways to gain the attention of groups is to amuse them.  Children repeatedly do silly things to amuse others when they [...]

Part of what makes babies adorable is their helplessness.  They can do little more than scrunch their eyes when the light is too bright, wiggle when they’re cold and, of course, cry when they’re hungry.  Doting mothers relish this time of life, instinctively smiling as they gaze at the strengthless child secured against her body. While it’s a blessing to care for a powerless [...]

When I was young sleep came easy, particularly as a new parent.  My wife and I would joke that if I was given ten minutes in the middle of the day, I could lay down on a rock in a rainstorm and sleep through nine of them.  Odd working hours and sleep deprivation certainly were contributors, but looking back I realize there was more [...]