by Elaine Olsen | Mar 22, 2015 | book review, family fun, parenting, pilgrimage
I had the privilege this evening of praying with a friend. The focus of our prayer? Our children – hers grown, mine half-grown. Or so it seems. Does the growth factor really ever come to an end? Does our growing up have an expiration date? I don’t think so. In that...
by Elaine Olsen | Feb 26, 2015 | freedom, grace, Lessons from the Lunchroom, living God's truth
Quietly, she approached my desk and inquired about her quiz grade. I perused the papers in front of me and found hers. “You made a 76.” Her distress was apparent, burying her head in the palms of her hands. Normally, a 76 wouldn’t warrant such a response from this...
by Elaine Olsen | Feb 21, 2015 | grace, hunger, miracles, rest
“Jesus said, ‘Have the people sit down.’ There was plenty of grass in that place, and the men sat down, about five thousand of them.” –John 6:10 Plenty of grass. Of all the many facets that make up the miracle known as the “Feeding of the 5000” – this mention of grass...
by Elaine Olsen | Jan 17, 2015 | grace, hunger, kingdom, knowing God, Lessons from the Lunchroom, miracles, prayer
“When the two disciples heard him say this, they followed Jesus. Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, ‘What do you want?’” –John 1:37-38 As of late, my pen has been silent. There hasn’t been room enough in my life for words. Just doing. Mostly, just...
by Elaine Olsen | Dec 23, 2014 | Advent, christmas, friendship, God's voice, miracles, pilgrimage
We have an annual tradition of opening up our Christmas gifts to one another at the same time … over the phone. She lives in northern Ohio. I live in eastern NC. We’ve been friends for over twenty years, and every time we talk or get together, it’s as if we’ve never...
