A year ago, people were anxious and frightened. We didn't have all the information, we didn't know for sure what was happening, or when it would happen, and certainly not when it would end. We've had a year to settle into our lock-down existence. Zoom meetings used to be a novelty. Now we're zoomed out. We've learned how to negotiate long-distance holidays. There is still uncertainty, but hopefully, the anxiousness and fright have subsided for most people. Except now, it seem

Remember you are dust and to dust you shall return. The words spoken as the ash cross is traced on your forehead every Ash Wednesday. However, do you know that this was also spoken by God in the Bible? In Genesis 3:19 Adam, Eve and the serpent are punished for their transgressions in the Garden. The curse that is given to Adam - and all of humankind: “By the sweat of your face you shall eat bread until you return to the ground, for out of it you were taken; you are dust, and

It's February. It's a month I both love and hate. Dave and I (mostly Dave) have lost several family members during February. It's been 16 years since the last death, but I still approach February with a little bit of dread. February is also the month that several close family members were born, so there are celebrations. Ash Wednesday almost always falls in February. It's an up/down sort of day for me. I learned to love Ash Wednesday when my youngest son was born, but the day

Do you remember how fun snow days were when you were a child? Or did you even have snow days? I grew up in the suburbs of Chicago in a town called Darien. I would sit by the radio or watch the evening news in hopes of seeing or hearing my school name annonce “Center Cass School District will be closed.” Well, that rarely happened. Even with a few feet of snow we would find ourselves standing outside waiting for the bus to come and take us away to school. The city of Chicago w