Gherkin:  The Comeback Kid

By Lisa B. Thomas  •  January 15, 2026

I had never had a cat, but I have had many dogs. By my count, I have had 7 dogs in my adulthood and 3 dogs as a child. I have also had one bird and three guinea pigs but still, no cats. I have never really understood cats. They don’t come or sit when you tell them. OK, OK, my dog Oliver doesn’t sit or come either, but at least there is the hope he might. With cats, there isn’t even hope. Plus, I have terrible cat energy. Years ago, while visiting my daughter Lizzy, my time with her cat Dolly..

Recent Blog Posts

Loneliness is as Harmful as Smoking: Why Connection Matters

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  November 25, 2025

Years before the COVID-19 pandemic, I attended a conference hosted by the American Society on Aging. One session featured Dr. Julianne Holt-Lunstad, whose research left..

It's About Time

By Rev. Beth Long-Higgins, VP of Engagement and director of the Center for Abundant Aging  •  November 20, 2025

Recently, I asked a small group, “How do you mark the passage of time?” One person watches the sun’s movement through a window. Another relies on their dog’s daily..

The Weight and Wonder of Time

By Ashley Bills  •  November 13, 2025

“To everything there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” — Ecclesiastes 3:1 (NKJV)

Turns Out, I’m Creative After All

By Guest Blogger  •  October 30, 2025

When we hear the word “creative” most people automatically think of the arts—musicians, painters, writers, sculptors, etc. We have all heard those who say, “I’m not..

I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

By Rev. Darla Metz  •  October 28, 2025

Aging isn’t a slow fade—it’s more like a nice steady rise to a life well lived. But let’s be honest: it’s not always easy. Our bodies change, our roles shift, and..

A Parade, a Promise, and the Creative Spark That Never Fades

By Anthony Spearhart  •  October 23, 2025

I was five years old the first time I saw it.

The Spark Within: A Child’s Journey into Creativity & Learning

By Rev. Dr. Bobbie McKay  •  October 16, 2025

My story is not like everyone’s story. Not every child goes to a business college at age seven to learn how to type so they could become a writer. Not everyone had a..

Travel, Tradition, and Creativity: Lessons from Japan

By Rev. Dr. Kenneth Daniel  •  October 09, 2025

One of the blessings of retirement is travel. Oftentimes we hold back during our working years thinking, “I’ll just wait ‘til I retire--then my bags will be packed.” I..

Loved Into Being

By Lisa B. Thomas  •  October 02, 2025

I’m not sure when I first thought “I want to be a nurse”, but by the time I was 15, the desire to go into nursing was simply part of who I was; it became a permanent..