Have you ever noticed how good it feels to give? I remember the first time I’d earned my own money to spend on people at Christmastime. I was 13, so I couldn’t go out shopping without someone driving me, which means they’d know about their presents, so I got the sneaky idea of ordering everyone […]
Read more "A Giving Heart"One day a few weeks ago as I was driving home from work, I stopped to wait for a red light and happened to glance into my rear view mirror. I noticed how tired and grim the person in the car behind me looked. I felt the stirring of compassion and a sense of connection […]
Read more "A Holy Joy"This year in honor of Valentine’s Day, which is coming up on Tuesday, I felt inspired to get out the old autograph books I inherited from my great-grandfather Hugo’s early school life. The year was 1888, and Hugo was 12 when his classmates had written—in their best, fancy penmanship—short verses and bits of wisdom in […]
Read more "The Allness of Love"In my work as a hospice chaplain, I am blessed to be able to spend time talking with people about the best—and sometimes the hardest—times of their lives. Folks often enjoy looking back, savoring the wonderful things they were able to do and enjoy and feeling some sense of accomplishment that they made it through […]
Read more "Finding the Blessing"This seems like a good query for the start of 2023: How often do you really praise God? Like, I mean really. With your whole heart full of gratitude, just spilling out in thanks. Let me give you an example of what I mean. This week I was waiting a bit anxiously to see whether […]
Read more "Bless the Lord, O My Soul"The thankful season is upon us, as we make our shopping lists and get ready to cook the Thanksgiving feasts that are traditional for our families. Along with our favorite holidays come a big set of familiar expectations. We know who likes cranberry sauce and who doesn’t; who prefers apple pie to pumpkin; which grandchild […]
Read more "A Blessed and Blessing People"“That is how life can work, as God created it. We all fit together in a great and beloved community where one person’s gift fits another’s need and so there is no lack, no hunger, no division, no jealousy, no hate… It’s not such a far-fetched idea: all the trees around us are doing it right now. When we let God’s love inspire our actions in the world, our true and soulful colors will begin to show through. Our world can—even now–be transformed.”
Read more "The Measure of Love"When you think back over the last week, how much of God’s light do you think you shared with others? How often did you feel it yourself? We rarely think of looking at life that way or gauging the success of our days based on how often we smiled, how many times we were kind, […]
Read more "Let Your Light Shine"You may know that Thursday of this past week was what’s known on the Christian calendar as Epiphany, celebrated as the day the Magi arrived to bring their gifts to the infant Jesus. In our New Testament reading today we heard the story. Matthew gives us only a few general ideas about who these men […]
Read more "“Aha!” Moments"Today we are doing something a little different. Instead of our traditional message, we will have a series of short reflections, followed by several moments of waiting silence. We at Noblesville Friends hope you had a love and light-filled Christmas and are looking forward to a New Year full of possibilities and potential. Today we […]
Read more "A Peaceful Hush"
The Space between the Words 