The Light Shines in the Darkness {and the darkness does not overcome it}

My husband and I sat for a few moments in the waning daylight of September’s first day, swatting away persistent mosquitoes and chatting about unfinished summer projects. The bittersweet end of August that sidles up to the beginning of Autumn always surprises me by the quick demise of sunlight and sudden arrival of the evening. Honestly, it wasn’t dark like this at the same time … Continue reading The Light Shines in the Darkness {and the darkness does not overcome it}

Jody Lee Collins05/09/202213/10/20224 Comments

Spiritual Practice

Random Ramblings the Week of My 70th Birthday

I got a notice from the Neptune Society this week. Seriously. I felt like calling or emailing them to say, “I’m turning 70 this week. I am not dying.” It’s weird to do the math confirming I am, in fact, entering my eighth decade and realize I feel maybe 35 inside. Know what I mean? I wrote a poem about just that called “Age is … Continue reading Random Ramblings the Week of My 70th Birthday

Jody Lee Collins07/08/202208/08/20222 Comments

Made Things

Bill & Jody Get (and stay) Married-An Anniversary Story

July 14th, 1973. I’m not sure I can find a just right photo that sums up the time machine vibes of that day so very long ago, but I also didn’t want to let the day pass without writing a little something. I say ‘time machine’ because my wedding dress was made of cotton eyelet and my bridesmaids wore yellow checked gingham. My cake topper … Continue reading Bill & Jody Get (and stay) Married-An Anniversary Story

Jody Lee Collins14/07/202215/07/20223 Comments

Made Things

Lucy & Ethel Italy Travelogue–A Photo Essay

FULL DISCLOSURE: long post ahead but there are lots of great photos. The thoughts below are directly affected by a post-Europe travel brain and my best attempt at gathering my thoughts. Paragraphs may be rather random. “May be?” They are. People travel for different reasons. To see the world, visit friends, taste new food, for adventure or sight seeing, to fulfill a long held dream … Continue reading Lucy & Ethel Italy Travelogue–A Photo Essay

Jody Lee Collins09/06/202213/10/20229 Comments

Poetry

“I Am From”–An Interview & Poem

I recently had a chance (in the middle of the cacophony of home renovations) to chat with fellow writer Alyson Shelton who invited me to join her Instagram Live series sharing an “I Am From” poem. “I Am From” poems originated with writer George Ella Lyon**, a poet and teacher in her home state of Kentucky. The text of my poem is below. But for … Continue reading “I Am From”–An Interview & Poem

Jody Lee Collins05/05/202212/05/20222 Comments

Spiritual Practice

My Heart-God’s Garden

There are times in the dead of winter that I have a hard time imagining ANYTHING will every be growing or blooming in my flower beds. Then Spring and Summer come and it’s an EXPLOSION of color that can’t be contained. Somewhere in the middle of all that green there are plants vying for sunlight and air, wishing for water to nourish their leaves and … Continue reading My Heart-God’s Garden

Jody Lee Collins16/02/202217/04/20225 Comments

Book Reviews

Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

“Personally, I know little about God, whoever he is. If he is. I realize, however, that to some, he’s downright awesome. From Gram’s description, I picture him like a raptor with a sky’s wingspan, exhaling love’s oxygen on his hatchlings, feeding them comfort and truth and power straight from his beak.” -Sugar Birds, Cheryl Bostrom I haven’t stayed up until midnight to read a book … Continue reading Sugar Birds by Cheryl Grey Bostrom

Jody Lee Collins06/02/202209/02/20221 Comment

Hearts on Pilgrimage

How to Be a Poem

God with us in the broken place. E manu el, Yahweh whose hand steadies and steers us while we lift our face. Prayers rise. We cannot transform a heart but we can tend and feed the bodies housing hope, care for roses, prune and weed, wash and fold, clothe the people who inhabit our petitions. Wholly Spirit, He is wholly with us within, animates our … Continue reading How to Be a Poem

Jody Lee Collins08/10/202122/02/20221 Comment

Made Things, Spiritual Practice

Jesus–Heaven & So Much More

Last week in Sunday School we talked about the number 1, and how there’s only One Way to Heaven—and that’s Jesus. Of course, “Jesus” is the Sunday School answer to nearly everything. And it works, especially if you’re a young child. But what about as we grow older? This got me thinking. Jesus said He was the door, a way into the Kingdom of God … Continue reading Jesus–Heaven & So Much More

Jody Lee Collins30/09/202109/02/20222 Comments

Made Things

Ten Things About my Mother (for my birthday)

One of the things I miss the most about teaching Elementary School is reading aloud from favorite childrens’ books. There’s a chapter in Kate DiCamillo’s ‘Because of Winn-Dixie’ about a “big, ugly, suffering dog with a sterling sense of humor” whom the main character, Opal, names because she found him outside the Winn-Dixie grocery store. Opal and her father are on their own because her … Continue reading Ten Things About my Mother (for my birthday)