Grief is a really weird thing. It doesn’t always make sense. It doesn’t follow the rules. It never asks for permission to invade. It shows up in the strangest times and the weirdest ways.

I am currently reading and studying the early days of David, the shepherd from Bethlehem, and his rise to become the king of Israel. I was particularly struck by the message in 2 Samuel 1, which offers one of the most unexpected responses to loss found in the Bible. David, a warrior and the future king, is devastated upon hearing of the deaths of Saul and Jonathan. He breaks down, weeps, and experiences deep pain.

“You steer where you stare.”

I recently heard this statement from Jimmy Dykes, an ESPN and SEC basketball analyst, while speaking to a group of seniors from Gibbs High School. It conveys a powerful truth: The things we regularly focus on ultimately shape the direction of our lives. In other words, where we direct our attention often captures our hearts. What we choose to look at or allow to dominate our mental and spiritual vision will inevitably influence who we become and where we go in life.

It all began with an unexpected package from Amazon—there was no note, just my name and the package from a kind, mysterious sender. Inside the plain white bubble-wrapped package was a book titled “Who Believed in You?” I had never heard of it before, but something about the title intrigued me. As I flipped through the pages, one chapter in particular reached into my chest and gripped my heart. It discussed a hidden superpower we all possess but rarely acknowledge: Trustworthiness. Not fame, charisma, or talent, but rather the quiet, steady strength of being someone others can depend on.

It’s Easter—one of the most wonderful times of the year! Easter is often seen as a celebration of resurrection, but the significance of the resurrection goes far beyond the grave. Jesus's death was a pivotal moment in the Christian faith, and Easter invites us to reflect on the transformative impact of what a resurrected and living Jesus means.

Divided individuals, family discord, broken friendships and damaged relationships have been part of the human experience for ages, much like the biblical story of Cain and Abel, who quarreled over their sacrifices to the Lord. Unfortunately, division, disagreement, disparity and conflict are common in our lives. While conflict is inevitable, how we respond to it is a choice. Our reactions to conflict are shaped by the actions we decide to take.

To some distressed individuals enduring significant opposition to their new way of living, Peter offered these words of comfort: “For the eyes of the Lord are over the righteous” (I Peter 3:12). This conveys a reassuring message that God is always watching over those who strive to do what is right. This is the core message of Peter's first letter to Christians trying to live out their faith in a merciless Roman Empire. His letter was meant to encourage them in the face of suffering and to challenge them to continue doing what is right, even when it is difficult.

Rumble strips, also known as audible road markings or alert strips, are traffic markers used on highways across America for several decades. These side markers along the direction of travel are safety mechanisms to alert traveling drivers when they are drifting off their desired path. When a vehicle’s tires come across these small corrugated or raised bumps in the road, it creates a tactile vibration and audible noise that not only alerts the driver but wakes up every person in the car and greatly increases heart rate in a matter of milliseconds.

In 1986, Jake Garn a Republican United States Senator from Utah, did the unthinkable: he volitionally gave away a part of his body to someone else. Ok, it wasn’t just to anybody, but it’s still an amazing thing considering that 78% of Americans say they would be an organ donor, yet only 13% sign the dotted line. Senator Garn’s daughter, Susan, was suffering from progressive kidney failure due to aggressive diabetes and was in desperate need of a kidney. Without hesitation, her father stepped up and at the age of 55, he gave her one of his.

The Book of Ruth is a cameo story of love, devotion, redemption and grace set in the dark context of the days of the Judges. Bible readers know that Ruth was a Moabite who forsakes her Pagan heritage to cling to the God of Israel. Her reward was a new husband (Boaz) and a son (Obed), and the eventual privileged position as great-grandmother to a king (David).

“The magnitude of my mission and the ticking clock of time.” That was a statement that I read recently and it literally rocked my world. I was painfully reminded that my time on this planet is limited and there is still much to be accomplished. Goals for my family, objectives for our church, and then my own personal ambitions. Husband, dad, pastor, leader, coach, family member and friend are a few, but not all of the titles that I have. Wearing multiple hats is not always easy and often presses me to the point that I feel as if I am not wearing any of them as well as I would like to.