He sat in a sun-filled room — the particular angle of afternoon light through the window was her light. The kind that used to fill the room she loved most. Without warning, the grief was fresh again. He looked up — weathered face, steady eyes — and said quietly: “Some days the grief feels fresh again. Like it just happened.” Then, without bitterness, with the simple candor of a long faith: “But God meets me in the ache. He sits with me there.” I did not have anything to add to that. It was already complete.
Tag: C.S. Lewis
His Perfect Timing. In His time. It is designed.
An older woman sits with a cup of tea, looking back across the years. She thinks about the prayers she begged God to answer — the ones He answered later, differently, better. She smiles a slow, full smile and says quietly: “I used to rush God. I used to think He was late. Now I’m grateful He didn’t give me everything when I wanted it.” He has made everything beautiful in its time.
His Light Shines Brightest In The Dark
A gentleman sitting by his half-drawn curtains said quietly: “Chaplain, some days feel darker than others.” He was simply telling the truth. I leaned forward and said: “God’s light shines brightest in the dark.” He nodded slowly — the kind of nod that is not just agreement, but recognition. Something true finding the place it belonged.
The Gift of Spiritual Friendships
Walking Together
None of us were meant to walk the path of faith alone. While our personal relationship with God is primary, He often sends us “companions for the journey” to help us when we stumble. In Day 27 of our His Nearness series, we celebrate the gift of spiritual friendships—those special bonds where we don’t just share a meal, but we share the very life of Christ with one another.
Devotionals
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The Strength of a Quiet Hope
The Anchor of the Soul.
When the world around us changes and our own strength feels small, hope can sometimes feel like a distant dream. But biblical hope is not a “wish”—it is a confident expectation. In Day 25 of our His Nearness series, we explore how hope does not have to be loud to be strong. Like an anchor hidden beneath the water, a quiet hope holds us steady when the surface of life gets choppy.
Christmas, Advent
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Advent Week 4: Merciful Love
Love is the reason for everything. The reason God came, the reason He stayed, and the reason He will come again. In the final years of life, many find they understand the weight of this love in ways their younger selves never could. Christmas is fundamentally God’s love story—written in the language of a baby’s cry and proven by a life laid down for others.
As the Angel proclaimed to the shepherds, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).¹ This “Merciful Love” is not merely a sentiment but a biological and psychological necessity. In fact, the Harvard Study of Adult Development, which has tracked participants for over 85 years, identifies the quality of our relationships as the single most important predictor of health and happiness as we age.²
This divine love creates a “chosen family” that transcends biology. Just as St. Augustine noted that “God loves each of us as if there were only one of us,”³ we are called to reflect that love without hesitation. As Brennan Manning famously challenged, the greatest hindrance to faith is often a lifestyle that denies the very love we acknowledge with our lips.
Next Chapter
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Joy That Lingers: Grace, Gratitude, and the Gift of Memory
Joy is not just a memory—it can be discovered anew every day, even in the simplest moments. A familiar song, a cherished story, or a shared smile can awaken delight in the heart. Through gratitude, connection, and God’s presence, joy becomes a conscious choice, not just a fleeting feeling. Let us open our hearts today to the blessings that bring delight, both past and present.