As Bilbo Baggins says, it’s a big day for Corgi: It’s like a golden day today. I was born in 63, and you can do the math. I’m spending the day with my cousin, and we are enjoying some sunshine.
Minnesota, on the other hand, burns with ice and fire. I’m watching from a distance. I’m not completely an armchair critic, but I sort of feel like it because I am out of town.
I have shared some things on social media that define my own thoughts regarding the craziness in Minnesota these early days of 2026.
Stuff in Venezuela, stuff in Iran, stuff in all the blue states: things seem pretty chaotic overall.
The national digital ID in Britain, Cuba, vaccine and abortion issues, artificial intelligence—-it seems a bit like an avalanche of concern for someone of my faith persuasion.
But I will ramp this post down to Corgi’s concerns.
Corgi Hollows lost its Corgi last Tuesday. Less than a week ago.
Corwyn was showing signs of breathing problems again, one month after she had been in the emergency pet hospital overnight with oxygen. I took her to our own vet last Monday morning and the doctor said she seemed to have heart problems.
After a trial run on some medications she was not improving. Her suffering was more than I could stand.
We chose to end her life on Tuesday morning.
I cannot tell you that I even acknowledge that she is no longer with us right now. I am still in denial.
I had had my trip to the sunshine planned and plane tickets bought months ago, so I decided to go for my winter vitamin D and process my loss as I soaked up the sun.
Corgi Hollows is in good hands during my absence.
When I return I will face my grief head-on.
Those of us who love animals understand the pain of losing them. As one who grew up with farm animals, horses, cows, dogs, cats, I felt the pain deeply and often. Animals just do not live long enough.
I always circle back to the promises and covenants that God made with animals, His significant treatment of animals throughout Scripture, especially in Genesis when He set up creation. I think of and comfort myself with Revelation 21:5: He will make ALL THINGS NEW.
I fully expect to see my animals again.
And God says He is preserving my tears. He understands me even if people don’t. He knows my thoughts from afar off. He comforts me. He loves my furry friends more than I do.
I refuse to be callous and “adult” in accepting the lower orders of life. I feel loved and accepted by them far more than by most people! They are integral to me.
So I grieve, unashamed. I have cried my eyes red.
Yuki is also grieving. Topi wanders around with deep meows. Alex, our new resident cat, wasn’t a fan of Corwyn, so he shows no signs of loss. Cheri is strong. Ed kindly accompanied me to the vet with Corwyn and was profound comfort for me.
Corgi Hollows lost three pets in the past 11 months.
Why?!
Who could have predicted this?
This is life, this is change, this is the reality of sickness and death. I must accept it.
For now we will hunker down and heal. Corgi Hollows will probably have another Corgi some day, but I need to wait and rest.
My body continues its healing process from cancer and surgery. I have lost a few pounds since the holidays. Swimming is therapeutic, and my physical therapist is optimistic about my health come-back.
The weather here in sunshine country could not be more perfect. It’s too cold to swim, but I can soak up the sunshine next to the pool. The water is such a nice thing to sit by, palm trees wave above my head. My cousin and I laugh and laugh.
Yesterday we went to church and it was a most interesting service. I feel like reporting what happened here because I was so impressed.
The church is quite large, and it has been around for 63 years (as I have!) The senior pastor and elder board decided five years ago to prepare for a pastoral transition, with a timeline that included major goals.
The church chose to cultivate a candidate from within the GenZ pastoral staff. They consulted professional help with head hunting, formed a “search committee” within the elders and pastoral staff, and began to groom the person most fitting for the role of senior pastor.
Some thoughts shared in the morning service made an impression on me. If you choose someone from within the congregation/church there will be little change in the overall direction of the body. If you bring in an outsider you will experience change.
If a church needs to change, bring in an outsider. If the church is healthy and wants to remain healthy, pick an insider.
In order to remain healthy the church needs to choose a candidate that is around 40 years old. Wow. Apparently the data shows that a vibrant body that continues to grow must have a pastor that is within 10 years of age (plus or minus) of the majority of the congregants.
So, the pastor, who is 63, saw the writing on the wall and started the exodus process on his own. I find that commendable. He will still be on staff in this big church in another role.
A younger guy who has been trained and held accountable for the past 15 years by church staff is taking the reins and he was introduced as the next senior pastor. There will be a vote of affirmation from the congregation in the next months, but the staff has already chosen him unanimously. They know him well. He’s 43.
I find this whole situation very interesting. Positive.
I am not a fan of mega-churches (won’t elaborate here) and I am cynical about big names in theology and American Christian culture. I am a severe critic of mainline Christianity (Christianity in name only!) and I tend to ignore “Christian trends.”
Of course I am a home-schooling Christian veteran, former missionary, church planter, Christian musician—teacher, Bible prophecy maven, conspiracy theorist, theology critic….
I nod to all these things. But all these things have made me a cynic. I’ve seen too many fall, I’ve seen the cultural trends in my “Christian country.” I have seen failure.
I’ve been burned, too, by my Christian brethren (and sisters.)
I speak/write from an insider’s standpoint.
And I am a cynic.
So, I have chosen to look at Jesus and obey Him. I am accountable to Him, and Him alone.
The body they may kill, God’s truth abideth still. —Martin Luther
I will stand on God’s truth.
Truth, Discipline, and Kindness.
At the vet the doctors said to me, as I am weeping, “It’s the kindest thing to do…”
I immediately knew that God was in the moment, and I could let Corwyn go. God had the vet use one of my 2026 words and I just knew He was there in my sorrow.
Sometimes it is just the smallest thing, the little seed.
Pray for Minnesota. Pray for us all. Pray for the world.
Here is my “snatch list” prayer for this post:
Dear Heavenly Father,
I pray that you would snatch R. He is at the top of my list, an influencer that holds great admiration in his field. I pray for him every day and I see fruit in his life! This is so exciting to see. I believe you are truly working in His life.
I don’t know if he belongs to you yet, Lord, but I will pray that he makes this transaction to belong to you and that he will influence many, many of his followers to turn to you as a result. I thank you for loving him and revealing yourself to Him.
Save him soon, Lord! Snatch him from the fire.
In Jesus name,
AMEN!
Maranatha!!!