Gayl Wright

                                                                                      (photo taken at Long Lake in Maine) WHAT IS A PIVOT? This week's word prompt for Five Minute Friday is pivot . At first, I could not think of a thing to write about. I knew pivot had something to do with turning or maybe changing one's mind on something. Yet, I was without words, so I checked with the online Merriam-Webster dictionary and these two definitions stood out to me: a shaft or pin on which something turns a person, thing, or factor having a major or central role, function, or effect For the first definition... I thought of how the earth spins on its axis (which is like an invisible pivot) while simultaneously orbiting around the sun. Then my thoughts turned to the fact that it c...

  SUFFERING COMES TO ALL No one likes to suffer, even if it is deserved. We don’t like pain of any kind, though we sometimes unintentionally cause ourselves pain. What about suffering when we’ve done nothing wrong? Many in times past and even now face suffering because of their faith. Some have even been put to death, becoming martyrs for the cause of Christ. Scripture tells us not to be afraid: 14 But even if you should suffer for righteousness, you are blessed. Do not fear them or be intimidated, 15 but in your hearts regard Christ the Lord as holy, ready at any time to give a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you. 16 Yet do this with gentleness and reverence, keeping a clear conscience, so that when you are accused, those who disparage your good conduct in Christ will be put to shame. 17 For it is better to suffer for doing good, if that should be God’s will, than for doing evil. 18 For Christ also suffered for sins once for all, the righ...

TO CRITICIZE OR NOT It is time for Five Minute Friday , and the word for this week is criticize . When we do the five-minute writing, we are supposed to just write and not worry about editing. But I always find myself editing, because I want to try to make sure it sounds coherent. So here's my offering with a little bit of editing: Criticize is a word many of us don't like to hear because of its uncomfortable connotations. Maybe someone has criticized you a lot, with much of it unwarranted. Or maybe you have been the one to offer unsolicited criticism. But we don't have to criticize in a way that brings someone down. CONSTRUCTIVE CRITICISM Sometimes, we want constructive criticism because we've written a piece, have some music to share, or have authored a book. We've put a lot of work into these projects, so when someone criticizes, we might take it personally at first and be hurt by it. Yet, we do want to improve, don't we? So, wouldn't it be better...