Monthly Archives: August 2021

Dear Reader: A few days ago Susan sent me an interesting article about raising thankful kids in an entitled culture. Until very recent times children definitely had back seats in the hierarchy of societal importance and attention received throughout history. … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: Occasionally when a ” nothing” day rolls around ( like yesterday) I can just feel all the tension slowly oozing out of me … and it gives me time to pause and appreciate the ordinary beauty around me. … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: Years ago I happened to be at Brittlebank Park, with friends, watching the sunset over the Ashley River when something caught our attention… ” dragon boats” were pulling on to shore amid happy calls and much paddle waving. … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: As the month of August begins winding down… so do my reflections on how my connection to St. Jude’s Chapel in the woods began…pausing to bring closure to one part of the creation story while opening up myself … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: How many of us have heard expressions similar to ” Keep the trust… but a little luck “don’t” hurt either? ” Yesterday was one of those days when trust and luck seemed to be fighting it out for … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: On July 26, 2010 I first laid eyes on St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope. By that time, unbeknownst to me, Beverly Barutio, had passed eight years earlier. But even death would not stop the connection that was soon … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: This beautiful stain-glass window isn’t in St. Jude’s Chapel of Hope… but in Aldersgate Methodist Church in North Charleston where yesterday I gave a short message to the Women of the Church as they stoically and determinedly outlined … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: The picture above was the most looked at photo in 2015 in my mobile phone’s photo albums…even though the original picture had been the impetus for the creation of the blog post five years earlier. It is important … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: Now that I have allowed myself to go back down memory lane … eleven years in the making… my head is exploding with recollections I have not entertained in so long… I am having to shake the dust … Continue reading →

Dear Reader: This month marks the 11th year of the Chapelofhope stories. It all began on August 7, 2000! The biggest turning point in my life. ..when I decided to reach out into the new frontier … at least for … Continue reading →