by Merita Atherly Engen | Jul 28, 2016 | Creative, Healer, Points of Light, Shining on God's Character
Southern Appalachia isn’t the only place our ancestors eked out an existence clearing virgin timber and hauling rocks from new fields. Across our nation, across our world, survival usually depended on hardy folks with muscles hard. Folks in touch with nature and in...
by Merita Atherly Engen | Jul 14, 2016 | Giver, God of Our Ultimates, Grief, Points of Light, Relationships, Shining on God's Character, Survival
“They need help unloading a trailer of food.” The coordinator at the flood response crisis center handed me, my husband, and a local friend a work order. “It’s a church, or what used to be.” She shook her head of gray hair as she turned to the next group of...
by Merita Atherly Engen | Jun 23, 2016 | Failings, Forgiving, Gentle, God of Our Ultimates, Grief, In Sickness, Loving, Patient, Points of Light, Shining on God's Character
Entering my trashed apartment was like entering a mind diseased. Your whole head is injured Carpet blanketed in filth – Kitchen sink smeared with a brown film – Your whole heart afflicted. Food rotting in the refrigerator – Windows broken – From the sole of your foot...
by Merita Atherly Engen | Jun 14, 2016 | Creative, God of Our Ultimates, Grief, Points of Light, Relationships, Shining on God's Character
https://meritaatherlyengen.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/Womb-of-the-Wind-Penpoints-of-Light-—-WordPress.mp4 Heartache abounds. Slow and insidious or sudden and gut-wrenching While the wind roars its violence. Depression debilitates. Dark cloud suffocating heart and...
by Merita Atherly Engen | Sep 10, 2015 | God of Our Ultimates, Good, Points of Light, Protector, Relationships, Shining on God's Character, Survival
Two weekends ago the weather was good for flying. Not perfect. A layer of haze, hot and moist, hung in the late summer sky, but visibility was good. My husband, Bruce, eager to get behind the controls, began his pre-flight check. I stepped onto the wing, slid into my...
by Merita Atherly Engen | May 29, 2015 | Fatherly, God of Our Ultimates, Identity, Motherly, Points of Light, Saving, Shining on God's Character
A little box of baby things are tucked away wrapped in plastic, safe in a drawer. Whenever I open that drawer, I imagine a mother crocheting a blue sweater and booties, fashioning a delicate crocheted cap, and hand stitching simple flannel socks. I thumb through...
