Carol suffered a major stroke in November. We are so thankful for her caregivers… and for the gift of life shared together, including this season of big changes.
It’s been quite a journey. Are we there yet? You know… to wherever it is God is leading us? Tragedy strikes… we wonder all over again, “What is God preparing us for now? Where does this lead? Too often, I fear, we default to our natural, pre-Christian setting: I trust God to change my circumstances—to take away my pain—so I can relax and enjoy him again.
Trust that he is doing a deep work in your life, and ask him to show you his presence and provision.
And when you do, perhaps your perspective will change. Perhaps you’ll discover that dependence truly is the promised land, because God has become even more precious to you.1
"Dependence truly is the promised land.” That’s where God is leading us. We can live there today… and every day. If we do, our baseline response to everything—against all odds—never changes. Never.
Greg wants to keep blogging. I still have much to share, especially in areas like Christ-centeredness, healthy worldview, relationships, discipleship, and what the Great Commission2 should mean for all of us.
I’ll start by sharing someone else’s words on a topic I find alarmingly neglected.
Jennifer Greenberg is a consistent, credible voice where far too often the default setting is to deflect and sweep under the rug. I admire her bravery. Please hear her and check out other posts on her Substack blog.
And now from me:
I’m trying to catch up on my Spanish blog, particularly my Sobremesa series. As I worked on translating the 8th installment, I also updated the English version. Here are the links for them.
My new book: My Journey: Steadfast and Evolving went live on Amazon in the days following Carol’s stroke. I’ve not done anything yet to promote it. The first chapters offer a picture of who I am. A later chapter in the book is called “I Said No In Thunder”. It describes an important part my journey. The chapter ends like this:
My Journey Out from Under From lost to found From form to substance From trivial to essential From doing to being From rigid to genuine From rote to refreshment From persevering to joyful. If I were asked to return to where I started, I, too, would say no in thunder. I was a dog on a short chain. And now there's no chain. Smith, Greg. My Journey: Steadfast and Evolving (p. 135). Kindle Edition.
More Books:
Her Song to Sing chronicles her daughter April’s journey through cancer and Carol’s walk alongside her. A message of courage and comfort as we travel the twists and turns of life this side of heaven.
I have no agenda, only the hope my words might foster reflection and healthy conversation. To that end, this edition of ASSERTIVELY APOLITICAL includes reflection questions to help generate critical thinking and guide discussions with others.
“Go therefore and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit,” Matthew 28:19 ESV