Marilyngardner5

LATEST ARTICLES ( 1127 )

• She Lived a Large Life

  The best thing I did all week was attend the funeral of Chong Wright. Chong and her husband, Wilbur, attended our church. Wilbur, a once tall soldier in the US... Read more

  Posted on 23 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Rescuing the Shire

  

  This quote from the The Return of the King, the final volume of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, resonates deeply with me.* I don’t know about you, but I get... Read more

  Posted on 22 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• The Refugee Highway – Refugee Infographic

  

  Stepping Beyond the Tents Every 4 seconds someone is forced to flee their home. These refugees are vulnerable and without long-term options. Many struggle in... Read more

  Posted on 20 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Monday Morning Resilience

  ************I began the day by reading about refugees and resilience. The specific article I was reading is a fascinating study on refugee care. Read more

  Posted on 19 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Phantom Sensations

  

  I’ve read that when someone loses a limb, it takes their brain a long while to adjust to the loss. For years afterwards they experience pain in the missing part... Read more

  Posted on 16 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Eight-Acre Woods

  

  Growing up overseas, we had no family home. Rather, every place we lived had a different name, generally given to the house by the previous owners or... Read more

  Posted on 15 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Living Out the Nike Mantra – Just Do It!

  

  The morning starts poorly. I miss my bus.It’s not a long walk, but today it feels so. Today all of life feels like a long walk. I pass by evidence of a world... Read more

  Posted on 13 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Dear New People at the Department – A State Government Employee Speaks

  

  I work at a State Department of Health. I can assure you that anything you ever believed about state government is true. There is red tape, there is waste, ther... Read more

  Posted on 12 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Dear Linda

  

  In the middle of the night I got a message from my friend Linda that lives on the other side of the world. She is hurting. They left South Asia several years... Read more

  Posted on 09 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• A Final Note for Those in Crisis

  

  I thought it fitting to write a last word on the crisis piece. The comments in the piece Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis hurt my heart. And so this piece... Read more

  Posted on 07 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• The Laws of Smartphone Use

  

  It is painful to admit, but there are times when my smartphone has controlled my life. In an effort to be transparent about this, I am writing my own laws of... Read more

  Posted on 06 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Giving Grace to People in Crisis – the Sequel to Stupid Phrases for People in...

  

  When I wrote the piece “Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis,” I had no idea the nerve that I would touch. Sadly, I think it resonated deeply with people... Read more

  Posted on 05 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Caring for People in Crisis

  Vlog-Caring for People in Crisis from Marilyn Gardner on Vimeo.My first VLOG!! WHAT?? Yes – I know what vlogging is! This is in response to the piece “Stupid... Read more

  Posted on 03 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Free Wine–Reposting a Yet Awkward Moment!

  

  I have a friend who volunteers at our local wine festival. When it was over she was given a case of bottles of wine that were all partially consumed. They had... Read more

  Posted on 02 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Sibling Pride

  

  I have remarkable siblings. I am the only girl in a family of five kids, fourth in the family line up with three older brothers and my youngest brother, the... Read more

  Posted on 01 October 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Memories of a Chatty Cathy Doll

  

  When I was eight years old, I got a Chatty Cathy doll for Christmas. Chatty Cathy was the first talking doll. When you pulled a ring on her back, she would say... Read more

  Posted on 29 September 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Stupid Phrases for People in Crisis

  

  God will never give you more than you can handle. While perhaps theologically correct, it is singularly unhelpful to the person who is neck-deep in a crisis,... Read more

  Posted on 28 September 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Questioning My Questioning

  

  Last weekend I attended a two-day class on developing listening skills. The sessions were insightful and intense. I learned so much about how to better engage... Read more

  Posted on 25 September 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• Memories of Eid Celebrations عید مُبارک

  

  Eid Mubarak to all my Muslim friends and readers today.Each year, the sighting of a crescent moon tells Muslims around the world the date of Eid al Adha. With... Read more

  Posted on 24 September 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION

• A Short Video Explains a Crisis

  Tonight my husband and I will be at our church, sharing some stories and pictures from our trips this past year to Turkey, Lebanon, and Iraq. In the spirit of... Read more

  Posted on 23 September 2015 RELIGION, SELF EXPRESSION