Each Saturday morning a men’s group from the church where I am a pastor meets for breakfast at a local restaurant. It’s an opportunity for men to talk honestly about their...

When I went through a difficult time, it was hard for me to understand what God was doing in my life. Everyone else seemed happy except me. I asked many questions:...

I was confident that I was going to get an A in my humanities course. I had earned nearly perfect grades and eagerly participated in classroom discussions throughout the semester. Now...

One of my friends in high school suffered from depression and suicidal thoughts. I tried to reassure my friend that I would always be there for support and encouragement, which my...

I recently began a new hobby: candle making. In my first class, I made a candle by layering different shades of blue. I had to wait for the first layer to...

As I got home with a car full of groceries, my buddies — a pair of four-foot-tall sandhill cranes who wander the neighborhood — foraged in the yard. I sang out,...

Our home is located next to a park where I often walk with my young daughter in the early spring. When the birds begin their spring migration, the park is filled...

“I have difficult news for you,” said the doctor. “You have cancer.” Shock and fear washed over me. Then came heartbreak and tears. Thus began the endless rounds of scans, medical...

While walking to an evening worship service, I saw the soft, warm light from the sanctuary’s stained glass windows glowing in the night. The windows provided a welcome but limited illumination...

For three years I faced one challenge after another. I was diagnosed with burnout and depression, and I had to give up my profession as a teacher. Since then, I have...