March 2014 – 300 words a day

Monday morning reflections

Do you ever get to Sunday evening full of thoughts and lacking the energy to develop them? Yes, me too. Here are a weekend’s full of thoughts. Feel free to develop them yourself. In class on Sunday, I asked a question that I have often asked in discussion settings: “Who is your favorite member of […]

by Jon Swanson

Developing images

I only wanted to upload a couple photos from the microSD card. It was going to be faster than sending the images one by one from my stupidphone. I didn’t realize that the card had photos from both Nancy and me, from last night and from 2008. And because the numbering scheme of the phones […]

by Jon Swanson

Characterized by distraction

“Don’t let your life be characterized by distraction.” I wrote that in my journal Tuesday morning. I’m not sure why. I mean, I know that I wrote it as I was taking some notes on a mentor’s last letter to his closest follower. A couple blank lines later, I wrote “Timothy, let your life be […]

by Jon Swanson

What I mean when I say pray.

(first published September 12, 2007) I have had some people ask me to pray for them recently. I’ve told some other people that I am praying for them. I realized that I probably better tell you what I am doing when I agree or offer to pray. After all, it could be dangerous. ————– Picture a […]

by Jon Swanson

Offering counsel.

“I am not a counselor,” I said. “I give counsel.” I should have been clearer about that when I was talking to my conversationalist of yesterday. I often say that when people begin to talk with me about struggles and challenges and pain. A counselor is trained in techniques of helping, of therapeutic caring. A […]