Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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Rejuvenation Part 5
Nov. 5, 2024
At times, we experience a vague heaviness, an unsettled feeling. Sometimes, it's like mind fog or an almost imperceptible preoccupation. It may be a nagging thought; it may feel like a dark cloud hanging over us… We know we are not ourselves, but we can't put our fingers on the reasons for it.
Rejuvenation Part 4
Nov. 4, 2024
I do not know anyone who has not had tough times. And I have yet to experience anyone in the spiritual life who’s free from bewilderment, doubts, and tests of faith. It’s easy to ride high when things are going well. That’s when some people say, “God is so good.” We are on a mountaintop; we see everything clearly now and can’t even imagine being in a mess ever again. Yet when things deteriorate or adversity takes center stage, we are not so sure that things will ever return to the mountaintop we once enjoyed—doubts surface.
Rejuvenation Part 3
Nov. 3, 2024
Depletion is a fact of life. We must eat to restore our lost energy; we must water our plants, or they will die. We must fill our car with fuel or recharge it. The Creator sets things up so that energy is continuously being restored. Rain comes down; the sun shines, all life dies and is recycled into the earth to give more life. And then there is you and me. What do we do to restore our bodies, minds, and hearts? What happens when we do not?
Rejuvenation Part 2
Nov. 2, 2024
One of the quickest ways I know to rejuvenate is to go somewhere away from our usual demands and stressors. It may be true "There's no place like home,” but that's true about home's negative aspects too. There is no place like home.
Rejuvenation Part 1
Nov. 1, 2024
The word rejuvenation is rooted in the Latin "juvenis" which means young. Rejuvenation conveys the thought of making something or someone young again. We equate youth with strength, liveliness, and beauty, which are invaluable in moving us through the world. As we age, however, navigating the world can be physically challenging. As we lose the benefits of strength, aliveness, and beauty, we naturally want to recapture them. So, we search for ways to restore them. In what ways have you tried to recapture and maintain your younger self? Have these worked?
Your Life Story Part 7
Oct. 31, 2024
We do not know what the day will bring — we only know it will come. Yes, this day will be added to the story of our lives. What will the next 24 hours add to your story? What of life's infinite experiences will make up this day?
Your Life Story Part 6
Oct. 30, 2024
The role of hope is essential to our story. Without hope, how do we get through the most challenging times? Without hope, how do we see the light at the end of our tunnels? If it were not for hope, why would we believe in anything?
Your Life Story Part 5
Oct. 29, 2024
Until I lost her when she was ninety-two, I regularly sat with my grandmother and asked questions about her life. She was born in 1892, so she had a wonderful perspective on life. She was raised in a farm family in Linn Crossing, Alabama. Bernice graduated from what is now the University of Montevallo. Her mother was a homemaker, and her father was a farmer and a county judge. She told me many things I would never have known about farm life during that part of history, like running down chickens, ringing their necks, and plucking them for Sunday dinner. She spoke of playing in the cornfields and learning from her mama how to cook her wonderful biscuits, cakes, and pies… yum.
Your Life Story Part 4
Oct. 27, 2024
Most siblings share genetics, parents, family, and the same essential environment. But brothers and sisters can give entirely different accounts of their growing-up years.
Your Life Story Part 3
Oct. 27, 2024
A Zen koan says, “What did your face look like before your parents were born?” That simple line is a lot to digest. It conveys the counter-intuitive thought that an original face preceded our current one. With that approach, believing that we existed before our physical birth is necessary. Such a thought supports the idea that we are, first and foremost, an invisible soul with its spiritual image.
Your Life Story Part 2
Oct. 26, 2024
We are never too old or young to look at our life's story. All of us have a story, even babies. Our stories do not have to be glamorous or intriguing — ground-breaking, fascinating, or beautiful. After all, they are not lived to please an audience or receive a book review. The most important people who derive meaning from our lives are ourselves.
Your Life Story Part 1
Oct. 25, 2024
If you read the story of your life, would it be like a screenplay? Or would it be a running commentary? Perhaps it would be like a fairy tale or an epic. Maybe it would be a narrative or a loosely connected string of experiences. Does it have a plot, central meaning, or repeated themes? Do you ever think about your life's unfolding story? If so, do you reflect on its unique meaning, its way of portraying the world, and the lessons you learn along the way?