New Year – A Writer's Daughter

A Lesson from 2 Oxford Dons

I listened to a podcast recently on the friendship between C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien, two 20^th century English authors (Lindsay Mast interviewing Joseph Loconte, The World and Everything In It, link below). Specifically, the discussion centered on the context of their friendship and a shared mission that developed. They were Oxford professors building a friendship in the 1930’s, as British foundational beliefs in humanity, Judeo-Christian values and human purpose declined, followed by isolationism and apathy toward Hitler’s rise in power, before eventually facing the threat of German invasion, the terror of the bombing of London.

Into this time period, the two men, Lewis and Tolkien, forged a deep relationship, grappling with the problems of their day, concerned about the demise of a classic Christian worldview, and asking how in their university setting with their limited assets they could fight back. They agreed they could write! They could write stories reflecting the great story; stories that demonstrated goodness over evil, fighting for what is right, heroism in a pure form. The result was Lewis’s space trilogy Out of the Silent Planet and Tolkien’s The Hobbit. Armed with their thoughts and a pen (or a typewriter) they produced a mighty advance, “a beachhead of resistance against the ideological madness that is (was) all around them.” (Loconte)

The modern acclaim for these two esteemed intellectual authors clouds the reality that they really didn’t start with much. They could only endeavor to take a stab at a large and looming moral collapse with the sword of their pen, their writing skills (Ephesians 2 v 10 ). But oh my, how God used and continues to use their stories to point readers to God’s redemptive story, the real savior, Jesus Christ!

Using what you have, the competence and forte of your background, your mind, and your heart, to participate in God’s kingdom is the call of Christ followers. Years ago, I heard Rick Warren preach a sermon on Moses’ calling. When Moses, joined by his brother Aaron, did not think he had much to offer as God called him, he was asked what they had on hand. Aaron held a staff or a walking stick, and the Lord told him to throw it down, where it immediately became a live, writhing snake! God used Moses’ one asset when Moses was willing to respond.

The feature photo and this one were taken in Oxford, England. This is the door of Magdalen College, where C.S. Lewis taught.

This is what I pray for myself in the New Year: in interviewer Lindsay Mast’s words to “meet the forces of evil in starting where we are and doing what we can with what we have.” Loconte agreed, quoting Ecclesiastes, “Cast your bread upon the waters.” (Ecclesiastes 11 v 1) Blessings and Godspeed for your 2026 endeavors, Brenda

https://wng.org/podcasts/oxfords-inklings-and-the-christian-imagination-1764950179, Lindsay Mast interviewing Joseph Loconte for The World and Everything In It, wng.org, 12/06/2025.

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September is New Year’s

Happy New Year! You see, September always feels like New Year’s to me after my school years, then college, then becoming a teacher. Later, it felt like New Year’s when I sent my kids back to school … which at that time was September, but now, for many students, is mid-August. You financial types also experience the fiscal new year at this time.

This New Year’s (September) started with a bang for us: an early morning phone call on Labor Day weekend with a list of woes to be righted! Nothing life-shattering, but there were matters to attend to, nuisance issues to handle, on a holiday weekend. Frankly, troubles continue to pop up and I share this because I know you, my readers, face the same, and you’ll understand why I’m finally getting back to my blog.

We are thankful for a few days in the NC mountains recently. We were at The Cove (Billy Graham Training Center, hence our nametags). What could be better than September in the mountains? October! But it was so refreshing.

September, like New Year’s, urges a return to routine. My “A Writer’s Daughter” blog encourages the routine of being in Scripture, the book God authored for us. I came across some good insights on Bible reading this summer that I would like to share, written by J. D. Walt* (Wake-Up Call).

“’Meditate on it day and night.’ (Joshua 1 v 8) Do you know when that is? Yep. Always. It is always either day or night. But this little word – meditate– might mean more than you think it does. Many Eastern religions have laid claim to the concept of meditation. The biblical idea of meditation, as I understand it, is quite different. Meditation is often an attempt to empty one’s mind. The biblical practice of meditation is about filling one’s mind- with the Word of God.

“The Hebrew word (transliterated) hagah is pronounced “daw-gaw.” It means “to growl, utter, speak, or muse.” And, yes, you read it right, “to growl.” The biblical concept of meditation carries the image of a lion growling over, eating, and savoring its freshly caught prey. We so often think of the Word of God as duty we must exercise. The Spirit teaches us that the Word of God is a meal to be savored and enjoyed. Recall the signature instruction of Psalm 1: “But whose delight is in the law of the LORD, and who meditates on his law day and night.” (bolding mine)

“I have a working rubric that helps me engage the Word of God over time, and it has led me from a disciplined, dutiful reading of Scripture to a deeply delighted and desirous appetite for God’s Word. The hand is the mnemonic device with each finger representing a sequential step of engagement. And, of course, it is alliterated, each beginning with the letter r.

Little finger: Read (mouth)

Ring finger: Ruminate (meditate)

Middle finger: Rememberize (slowly load the long-term memory)

Index finger: Research (dig deeper)

Thumb: Rehearse (do it)”

May we all be encouraged to make time in God’s Word this New Year as part of our regular routine, in a delighted, enjoyable set aside time, and through on-going, joyful meditation.

*Walt, J. D. “Growling in the Word of God,” August 1, 2025. Wake-up Call, Seedbed.com

Here is the link: Growling in the Word of God

Clean Sweep

Starbucks named last Monday, the Mondayest Monday of the year. To help us through, the chain offered free brewed coffee to all who stopped in. Yours truly partook with pleasure! I assumed the “Monday, Monday” got the tag due to the cold, gray month and impending Hallmark holiday. The winter blues and/or uncertainty about Valentine’s Day does send some into the drearies but the worst Monday identifies something else. The Mondayest Monday is so named for Super Bowl hangovers: too much junk food, too much alcohol, and entertainment or team letdown. But that is all behind us now and we will have to pay for our Monday coffee fix.

What is also behind us is January, the new year month. It’s the month of resolutions, of fresh starts, blank slates and a clean sweep. The human heart and mind seek to move forward and give life another go. We are still in that fresh window of 2025, and I have a literal opportunity for a clean sweep.

Two years ago, I saw an ad in the post office for a broom sale sponsored by the Lions Club. I needed a broom for outdoor sweeping, so I called the advertised number but never heard back. Again last year, I saw the promotion and a quick text had a broom at my door in two days for $15! I also found out that the Lions Club corn fiber brooms are made by blind and visually impaired, supporting employment and education.

As pictured, I enjoy sweeping the front walkway, and our screened in porch is always in need of a clean sweep. When I sweep outside, I think of my parents-in-law. They were always intrigued that in the Polish (actually Ukrainian) section of their town, the women swept their sidewalks. Not having a sidewalk on their road, it seemed strange to them. As their daughter-in-law of Ukrainian descent, I smile when I grab my Lions Club broom to brush up our outdoor entries.

Now I’ve taken you readers from hangover Mondays to Lions Club brooms made by the blind, and Ukrainians who like to sweep, what is the conclusion? Clean sweeps are a good thing. We must live with our past and take responsibility for our choices, but with God, we can always claim a fresh start. As we push through the last days of the shortest month, which sometimes feels like the longest, we can lean on God’s promise that His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3 v 22-23), that we are not what we were (1 Corinthians 6 v 9-11), and that those who know the power of salvation through Christ Jesus’ work on the cross are a new creation: the old has gone, the new is come (2 Corinthians 5 v 17).

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Even the Stones Will Praise

My husband and I enjoy listening to the news source/podcast, The World and Everything In It. We especially like listening on Fridays for its features Culture Friday, movie reviews, Listener Feedback, and a closing Scripture with reminder to attend weekend worship. Last Friday, December 27, a listener shared his poem, “How Will A Stone Praise You?,” based on Luke 19 v 40. I’d like to share it with you here, for New Year’s, with full credit to Carlan Wendler and “The World and Everything In It” (wng.org December 27, 2024).

How Will A Stone Praise You? by Carlan Wendler

Some birds can whistle, warble, call;
While kid and lamb bleat in their stall.
Colt and mare snort, whiny and neigh.
Calf and cow lo amidst their hay.
Frogs will croak while chirp the crickets,
And squeak the mice of field (and) thicket.
The bees they bustle, buzz and hum;
And lizards slither when they run.
Quacks and honks and cries and roars,
Creation’s praise mounts. It soars.
But how will a stone praise You?
Leaves can rustle, crumple, crack
And brushing branches veer and tack.
Rain can beat and drum and flow
While shushing is the fall of snow.
The waves they batter, lap or bash —
As peals of thunder clap and crash.
The rushing river sounds applause,
And glaciers grind and pop their flaws.
Howls the wind…or whispers near;
All things are heard to Maker’s ear.
But how will a stone praise You?
A thrown stone whizzes, a dropped stone clacks
With ruckus down a valley’s cracks —
Or finds a pond to plunk and splash
And gurgle, gargle, breathe its last.
Great stones groan and grate and grind —
While small stones gravel grovels fine.
Shifts sands will sweep and swish.
And lava grumbles with a hiss.
Yet You have chosen in Your grace
The human voice to give You praise.
And though you gave us great surrounds,
All You ask are grateful sounds.
So breathe again into this clay
And raise a note of joy today.
Replace with flesh this heart of stone
And let it beat a thankful tone.
We thank You for the gift of life —
For coming down amidst our strife.
We thank You for the Cross and Grave
And Path of Pardon that they pave.
We thank You for Your family’s name,
For Union though we’re not the same.
We thank You that the Son of God
Was hidden in an earthy clod.
So how could a stone not praise You?

What beautiful, creative thoughts based on Jesus’ own words, “Even stones would praise Him!” Luke 19 v 40

Happy New Year: Praise the Lord!

Book Reports

Do you remember doing book reports in elementary school? Teachers cleverly devised multiple project ideas to ensure that students were regularly reading books. Assignments included paragraph summaries on 3 X 5 cards, dioramas, posters, book jackets, and others you may recall. Book reading for the young student continues to be a high priority at the elementary level, but approaches have changed, which I will not get into here. Instead, I will report on two, make that three, books I read in 2023. They stand out for me in ways I’d like to share. I hope my synopses earn passing marks from you!

“Live Not By Lies” was the famed dissenter Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn’s clarion call to resist Soviet repression, especially of religion. Writer Rod Dreher borrowed Solzhenitsyn’s phrase to entitle a book he never intended to write. Live Not By Lies lays out a “soft totalitarianism” that is creeping, maybe steamrolling, into American culture. Dreher came to author the book when immigrants from communist countries approached him about the glaring similarities of events and policies in Western democracies to the oppression in communist countries that they had personally experienced.

The book uncovers the many ways that a liberal ‘creed’ is being forced onto American society. Warning that it could happen again, Dreher recounts dreadful stories of massive religious persecution in Soviet block nations. It is a sobering and very unsettling book to read, but the story is not limited to America’s current dangerous reality and the evil history of the recent past. Dreher shares the steadfastness of individuals, families and congregations who resisted communist aggression against their faith, and he explains how their means of resistance were effective. He suggests these are ways that would be successful again.

My other book report features the book The Thrill of Orthodoxy by Trevin Wax. I saw the book on a recommended list in 2022 and was captured by its title – a bit of an oxymoron? The author was a new name to me, but I liked his bio. ‘Orthodoxy’ sounded daunting, nonetheless I bought the book and determined to read it. I was pleasantly surprised: the book was quite readable and compelling! Wax’s thesis is that orthodoxy, the timeless doctrines of the Christian faith, is adventurous and exciting. Rather than being dull or static, the Christian faith has been and always will be solid, stable, exuberant, invigorating … and in other words, thrilling! Joy and energy permeated the explanations and examples of historic Christian orthodoxy.

For extra credit, let me tell you how the two books are complementary. The onslaught of a new totalitarianism determined to wipe out Judeo Christian beliefs is chilling, but the orthodox truths of God are firm and life-giving. Scripture is “for such a time as this,” not unlike the Jewess, Queen Esther’s, vital calling during an impending genocide (Esther 4 v 14). With confidence and fortitude, we hold on to our foundational beliefs knowing they, by the power of God and His Son Jesus, will withstand the confrontations that may lie ahead.

Indeed, the Bible is the third in my book review of 2023. Now my assignment is complete and posted by the January 31 due date! As this first month of 2024 draws to a close, evaluate the quality and quantity of your Bible reading: set some goals or make a plan for the year ahead, inasmuch as “Every word of God proves true” (Proverbs 30 v 5) and “Man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes from the mouth of God” (Matthew 4 v 4).

The topmost book on the pile is a journal I keep of books I read. I record the title, author and a brief summary and critique.

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A Time for Calendars

Our son inherited his grandfather’s clock.

This past December, my husband and I were in an office supply store to buy a wall calendar. We like something big with large squares to write in appointments and events, and it hangs in the kitchen where we can see it daily. While checking out, a man (wearing a realtor nametag) commented to my husband that he hadn’t seen anyone use a paper calendar in years! The remark felt disrespectful and condescending to me. Of course, we are aware of digital calendars and on-line scheduling. We use technology options too but a calendar’s day-to-day visual reminder serves us well. Frankly, thanks to his comment, I won’t be calling the guy in the store for my real estate needs, but I suppose he’s right that wall calendars belong to the parent generation, the brunt of a series of recent insurance commercials.

I will be honest: I like calendars. Back in my classroom days, I kept several calendars up. The photos or art for each month aided conversation and content in my ESOL classroom. They added cheer and color to institutional walls and I find them cheerful now inside of closets, on the back of a door, and in a workspace. Some calendars remind me of a ministry with needs; others take me to a beautiful scene or share an artist’s work each month. My all-time favorite FREE calendar was the gorgeous photography and gardening news in the Merrifield Garden Center annual calendar but sadly I am not in Fairfax anymore to pick one up.

Calendars measure time, something precious and finite in the human experience. Belonging to the Author of Life, I thoughtfully consider time. I want to enjoy it, I don’t want to waste it and I know I am held accountable for it. I realize my earthly time will end one day. Already, I have attended two funerals in the new year. One life remembered was long, full and clearly dedicated to the Lord. The other memorial service also honored someone with a faithful legacy of serving the Savior, but the years were much short of the “span of seventy, maybe eighty years” described in Psalm 90 v 10.

We have quickly flipped over the first calendar page to February, torn off January, or digitally have swished or scrolled forward. We might still be in the mode of planning, goal setting, prioritizing or establishing better habits for the new year. That’s where I am too but I hope you are also considering how you will make your relationship to God a priority this year. How will you spend time with our very Author of Life, learn of Him in the Scriptures, and be encouraged by others who share faith in Jesus? David the Psalmist wrote that he “set the Lord always before” him (Psalm 16 v 8). The entirety of Psalm 16 describes the safety, value, goodness, joy, and LIFE in choosing Him as our priority. Blessings as you pursue Him fully in this unfolding new year.

Sweet generations remind us of the passage of time.

Welcome 2023 and Welcome Back Blog

As we step across the threshold of 2023, I also throw out the welcome mat to my blog, again. I last wrote a post on this blog in November 2022 and shortly after that I discovered my blog was no longer functional. My administrator privileges were not available to me and eventually I could not even pull up the URL address and my six years of content were gone!

I began attempting restoration; I reached out to the hosting site and the blog software. They were not coming through with support. Friends and family offered to help but we kept hitting the same dead ends. I don’t have an affinity nor an aptitude for technology, so I was lost!

About two weeks ago, I found an IT specialist who works on these issues. He quickly got absorbed in my case and spent hours to determine the problem and fix it. I am not fully clear on what happened and how, but my blog was hacked into, my credentials were changed, and content was hidden. With the expertise of the IT specialist, the hosting and blog software sites put my blog back together. The IT guy charged me for only one hour of his many – but he got a 100% tip from me!

I have written a few posts during the time my blog was down. Some of you may have seen them on social media. Soon I will re-post them on “A Writer’s Daughter,” but I am not sure that I can back date them; they may show up all at once with a real-time date.

As always, I thank you for reading my blog. I enjoy your comments. I pray that the site will stay secure. Its restoration is a gift from God and an answer to prayer. For the time being, I will be able to keep that proverbial pen in my hand, along with my coffee cup. Here is a prayer for the New Year and for this blog: “Let the favor of the Lord our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands upon us; yes, establish the work of our hands.”

Psalm 90 v 17

Scripture is the Best Script

Not too long ago, I saw a live dramatized recitation of “Revelation” performed by Marquis Laughlin. From memory, Laughlin recited the entire Biblical book called Revelation, word for word. He used no props that I recall, but his inflections and voices, sound effects, physical motions and posturing presented a powerful rendition of God’s Word and only God’s Word! The theatrical performance of “Revelation” lasted about two hours, in two acts, but it was spellbinding throughout!

Marquis Laughlin delivers a theatrical rendition of Revelation. Learn more at actsoftheword.com

As part of the program, Laughlin shared some of his story and how he got into dramatic recitations of the Bible. Early in his life and career, Laughlin wanted to be an actor. He went to California to pursue an acting career. While in California, a faith in Jesus Christ was born in his life. He began to grow and mature in his new Christian faith. He wondered how his beliefs would impact his acting career. Eventually, Laughlin concluded “Scripture was the best script” and he began his work in theatrical performances of the Bible. His ministry, for over two decades now, is “Acts of the Word.”

Marquis Laughlin’s story illustrates the transformative power of the Gospel. Among other things, for him, it meant a shift in his career plans. As one deepens in true Christian faith, beliefs will permeate all aspects of one’s life. Social choices, finances, lifestyle, education, health issues and more are surrendered to God. With Laughlin’s career redirection, it could wrongly be assumed that all Christians must go into some kind of ministry work. This is not at all what I believe God requires. Instead, our faith infuses whatever career God leads us to! That is why there are great Christian chefs, electricians, scientists, artists, medical personnel, you name it! As my father once wrote in a pamphlet on careers, “Every human activity provides a way for your light to shine.”*

A few years ago, I had my Bible rebound. The result was beautiful; a treasure preserved.

“Scripture is the best script” reiterates the theme and place where I always like to land in “A Writer’s Daughter.” The Bible is the most useful textbook, manual, or script ever written. Read the script, study the textbook whenever you can, for every reason. I have added a new tab to my blog: “How to Read the Bible,” for those of you who may need direction with Bible reading.

*Kucharsky, David E. (1995) Where in the World Are You Going? [pamphlet]. Christian Publications, Camp Hill, Pennsylvania.

Cynicism in 2022

A while ago, a friend sent our family an article of my dad’s that he had come across. It is interesting for me to see glimpses into my father’s writing; I did not read a lot of what he wrote at the time and much of his work was on the editing and publication side.

The scan of my dad’s article doesn’t photograph well, but we appreciate the thoughtfulness of the one who sent it. My niece recently came upon some of my dad’s work in her graduate research. It delights us to discover this legacy!

The piece was on the topic of cynicism and was written in 1975 for a Christian magazine**. Cynicism is a timeless subject; my father noted that cynicism “was everywhere these days.” His examples of cynical responses included politicians dodging difficult issues, dismay over declining product quality, and sports teams like the Washington Capitals always having losing seasons – it was decades before the Caps won the Stanley Cup!

Dad’s article traced the origins of cynicism to ancient Greece, where a group called Cynics, founded by Diogenes, sought virtue and a life close to nature. But one member acted rather cynically as we would understand the term, going “about the streets with a lantern in broad daylight, looking for an honest person.” That search is eerily applicable today!

Cynicism has several close cousins: sarcasm, skepticism, apathy, despair, and negativity, to name a few. It can be comic or bitter. The full title of my father’s article was “The Sport of Cynicism: Is it a game Christians should play?” His advice was to not allow “a sense of caution [to] deteriorate into a sneering manner.” To do so, he said, was an evil influence.

As we begin this new year of 2022, one could feel very pessimistic. The on-going pandemic and the continued division over its management are only the tip of the troubles we face. As believers in God and in His sovereign plan for us, we should not feel hopeless. My father’s article suggested two responses preferable to cynicism. The first was gratitude. I couldn’t agree more. Genuine thankfulness prevents complaints and discontentment. The second was patience; patience with difficult people and patience in continuing adversity. The Lord gives these two perspectives to those who pray and seek Him, submitting themselves to His work in their lives.

And in a conclusion that should be completely familiar to readers of “A Writer’s Daughter,” my dad ended his piece quoting Scripture: “Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly in all wisdom.” (Colossians 3:16) As God’s wise Word fills our minds and hearts, cynicism and fear cannot take hold.

**We looked into various periodicals that we thought dad’s piece might have been published in, but we were unable to determine that.

Bling, Part 2

In “Bling, Part 1,” I retold how wearing a special black and gold bracelet matched perfectly with the Bible passage about light and darkness that I read on the same day. God just has a way of speaking to us like that.

Bling is that eye-popping accent that tops off an outfit or adds glitz to a table setting. Women usually love a touch of bling but maybe men do also: a shiny silk handkerchief tucked in a suit pocket, an oversized wristwatch, designer athletic shoes or high-end boots. And then there’s cars – a silver hood ornament is certainly bling!

My husband and I have been traipsing through paint stores lately, searching for colors for the new house. Lots of interesting products fill paint store aisles, among them some BLING for garages. In more than one store, I saw floor confetti. Colorful flecks are sprinkled onto garage floor paint as it dries, adding pizazz to the man cave!

My friend Karen commented on “Bling, Part 1” that Scripture was her “spiritual nourishment – I would starve without it.” Food is exactly the analogy that came to my mind also. We must eat and God’s Word provides the nutritious food we need to thrive in this world. And if the Bible is the good food, the church is the good grocery store! Scripture nourishes us and the church, particularly a worship service, energizes us, ministering deeply to the spirit as nothing else can.

On the first Sunday of the New Year, we attended a local Sunday worship service. Though I knew no one in the congregation and most of the songs were new to me, the corporate worship with other believers fed my soul. Only an actual church service draws Christians together in prayer, music and praise, giving, encouragement and penetrating teaching. A Christian playlist or a pastor’s podcast do not serve the same purpose. We need The Church, The Body, to fully experience the blessings of the Christian life.

Though it is later in January than I would have liked, may I encourage you to make church attendance a priority in the new year? We all love high-end, specialty grocery stores, the myriad of Whole Foods, Fresh Markets, and the like. Find yourself a quality church and go there. We are commanded: ^“And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.” Hebrews 10:25 NLT

Full credit to the Christian Science Monitor website and to photographer Efrem Lutkatsky/AP. The caption read: “A bird flies over the sky near the 1,000 year old Orthodox Monastery of the Caves covered with the first snow this winter in Kyiv, Ukraine, January 15.” I happen to be of Ukrainian descent and my birthday happens to be January 15 😊 Wouldn’t this be a great scene for a jigsaw puzzle?

Bling, Part 1

Crows are drawn to bright and shiny things and so am I! Recently I wore the frayed bracelet shown in the photo. As I put it on, I recalled how I acquired it. Years ago, Craig and I were in New York City over the holidays and we passed through Bryant Park. Vendors had set up small kiosks. I saw and liked the hand-crafted bracelet, so Craig bought it for me.

I have always liked jewelry with black accents. The class ring for my high school featured an oval black onyx stone with the school name “W & L” overlaid it in gold. Though I loved the unique and classic design, sadly I did not splurge by buying it. Over the years I have gotten a few inexpensive onyx pieces as well as other costume jewelry in black. Black jewelry is elegant but bright in its own way: a versatile accessory. Bling!

After dressing for the day, I turned to my Bible reading: 2 Peter 1:12-21. There I read, “pay attention … as to light shining in a dark place, until the day dawns and the morning star rises in your hearts.” While this is a complex passage, we know that light dispels darkness. Spiritually speaking, keeping close to Jesus, the Light of the world, protects us from shadowy evil. I marveled at the connection of the day’s Biblical theme to my morning’s musings over the gold and black bracelet. God’s Word is truly alive and is used by Him to speak into our lives.

Later that day after having breakfast with friends visiting from out of town, I realized I had lost a favorite dangly black and rhinestone earring that I had been wearing. Apparently in putting on and off my mask (see my post, “Mask-Wearing Woes,” Sept. 24, 2020), the earring fell out without my noticing. Thankfully, it was an inexpensive pair but still disappointing to lose.

I hope you read Scripture often. I believe it is God’s perfect writing. You may not agree but would you still consider regularly reading the Bible (or listening with apps)? It will shed light on dark things; you too will experience how the Word meets your world.