Salt or Pepper

Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone. Col. 4:6

Lately I've found myself in a judgmental mood, particularly at work. Whether I'm engaging in gossip, over-using my sarcastic wit, or simply making snap judgments about people and their motives, I fear that my conversation is more often seasoned with pepper than salt.

My catchphrase for today is going to be, Cut people some slack. I have a feeling that I'll have to keep reminding myself of that.

In Memoriam

In the past month I've attended two memorial services, one for a man in his early 90s, the other for a woman in her late 20s. Although their lives varied greatly in the amount of time spent on Earth and their life circumstances, both were beautifully eulogized by their family and friends. Through each of these services I learned more about them, and about the great impact that they had on those around them.

I can't help reflecting on my own life, and wondering how I will be eulogized at my own funeral. How will I be remembered? And how can I live in such a way that the legacy I leave behind is one of love and faith? What can I do with my life to create an impact that spans time and death?

O God, teach me to live the life that I want to be remembered for.

Final Four

For the first time in 21 years (and only the second time in history), this year's Final Four will feature zero top-seeded teams. My favorite Duke Blue Devils lost on Thursday night, Memphis got taken out yesterday, and UConn and Villanova were both upset today.

So now it's down to LSU, UCLA, Florida, and (who?) George Mason for the Final Four. Interesting to see that there are no ACC or Big East schools (which have traditionally dominated the Final Four), and that two SEC schools have made it through. Being raised in SEC-land, I think I'm going to have root for an all-SEC final match-up. However, I do love an underdog, and George Mason sure makes a great Cinderella story.

Suffice it to say, I've already thrown out my bracket. Good thing I'm not a betting girl, because I would have lost a lot of money over it.

Man Faces Death for Converting to Christianity

Whenever I read stories like this one, I always feel humbled and wonder why God chose me to live in a country where I'm free to practice whatever religion I choose, while others, like this Afghan man and countless others around the world, face threats and even death for following God.

Because of the LORD's great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail.

They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.

I say to myself, "The LORD is my portion; therefore I will wait for him."

The LORD is good to those whose hope is in him, to the one who seeks him;

it is good to wait quietly for the salvation of the LORD. (Lamentaions 3:22-26)

Let the Madness Begin...

Spring has nearly sprung and March Madness has officially begun. I still haven't had a chance to fill out my bracket yet; maybe there will be a lull at work today and I can do that.

Of course, I have a pretty lousy track record in bracketology. I always pick Duke to win (which, I have to admit, is usually not a bad way to go). And I have to pick my Crimson Tide to get pretty far into the tournament, at least past the first couple of rounds. As for the rest of the teams, I just go with my gut, and sometimes I'm surprisingly accurate.

There's a lot that I love about college basketball and the tournament, but probably what I like best is the fact that anything can happen. It seems that each year there's at least one team that emerges as the Cinderella of the tournament, and occasionally Cinderella actually wins it all.

At the end of the tournament, it will be interesting to see how my bracket's done...although sometimes I end up tossing it out by the second round.

Roller Coaster Day

Some days are roller-coaster days, emotions going up and down along with stress levels and worries. Thankfully, today is ending on a much better note than it started with.

Even better:

For our present troubles are quite small and won't last very long. Yet they produce for us an immeasurably great glory that will last forever! So we don't look at the troubles we can see right now; rather, we look forward to what we have not yet seen. For the troubles we see will soon be over, but the joys to come will last forever. II Cor. 4:17-18