Angie opened her eyes slowly, adjusting to the bright light that flooded through her window. She felt like she had been run over by a Mac truck. As she took in her surroundings, she saw monitor wires taped to her chest, IV lines that that had been inserted into her veins, and a catheter that was working to keep her digestive system working. She

It is often said that the two most difficult things to do in life are to climb a fence that is leaning toward you or kiss a woman who is leaning away from you. A third difficulty that ranks up at the top would be: to help someone who does not want help. As a minister, I routinely offer information or advice that is

Puzzled at the repugnant odor polluting the early morning air, Jerome slows from a jog to a shuffle, then to a complete stop in front of his neighbor’s picket fence. Spotting Jim with a watering can, he breaks the silence. “He neighbor, beautiful morning, isn’t it?” “Wonderful!” replies Jim. “Say,” continues Jerome, “do you smell that? It smells like gasoline.” “Yeah,” Jim replies, smiling

They found her curled up in a hall closet, hidden behind a pile of dirty clothes. When the policeman opened the door, she winced and buried her head between her knees, shivering.  “You are safe now,” he cooed. “We are the police. No one is going to hurt you anymore.”  But, instead of relaxing, her six-year-old, emaciated frame shook even more noticeably. Every officer