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Seeing but not perceiving is an experience everyone has at some point. Hearing aids have been a great help to my wife, Judy, whose ears have deteriorated over the past few years. Last evening, she came to bed with the hearing aids turned on. When she woke up, one of the devices was missing. The…

Who am I? A question we often ask ourselves. Some years ago, I spent a full year going to a one-hour weekly session with a professional counselor. He was Jewish and very knowledgeable of the Buddhist, Native American, and other religious paths, in addition to Christianity. I used him, not for spiritual guidance but more…

He Could Not Be Hidden was written by a long-time friend, Raymond Key, has provided this week’s Reflection. Mr. Key is 100 years old and still writing quality material. His offering seems particularly appropriate for this, the week of Easter. Blessings and peace, Chaplain Allen chaplain@nationsu.edu chaplainscorner.org He Could Not Be Hidden (Mark 7:24) It…

How did first-world problems become third-world problems? For those of you who read this in the United States, you know how folks will complain about mundane things as if their whole world is coming apart. For example, while grocery shopping in the cereal aisle, they cannot find their favorite cereal box out of the hundreds…

The Most Loving Place on Earth “Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.”  (I Cor 12:27) This week has been a really tough week, one in which I have found myself off balance more moments than usual. I have experienced conflicted relationships in one of my spiritual communities that wandered…

Forgiveness is an important part of a Christian’s life, and I have been considering this all week. It turned out to be a bigger topic than I had previously appreciated. It seems closely associated with and intertwined with the concepts of reconciliation and love. All three are essential to one’s peace, joy, and a fulfilled…

What “tools” do you use in living the Christian life? Several options immediately come to mind: Bible study (one might even peg the Bible as a spiritual toolbox), prayer and fasting, hymns, fellowship with other Christians, etc. This week I have reflected on some of the tools that have been meaningful to me over the…

Does this thought ever cross your mind, “God will take care of me?” I read this week about a child named Howard who his mother awakened one evening. As the story goes, she asked if he would like to see the comet (Halley’s Comet). He got up, dressed quickly, and went out with her into…

Brain fog and mental stress affects everyone. We are all looking for ways to create more meaningful lives that include less “chaff” to distract us. This is especially important when one is working toward academic achievements such as those offered by NationsUnivesity. Most NU students study and hold down a job, building a family, and…

LIVING WITH CONTENTMENT By Guest Author, Tom Nuckels, Lifeline Chaplaincy Are you living with contentment? Recently, I was speaking with a group of spiritual care volunteers on Zoom. We meet each Wednesday morning for a “virtual coffee.”  One shared how she had decided to stop talking about how bad things are and to begin to…