Dr. Howell’s Reflections
Everyday, Dr. Howell writes a reflection, inquiry prompt, and a prayer.
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Life Giving Part 7
April 14, 2025
I take cardio exercise classes every day at the city recreation center. They are demanding classes — one class is Zumba, and on alternate days, it is another cardio activity. All the courses use great music. The teachers are very skilled and inspire us to try our hardest. The atmosphere in the room is upbeat and exhilarating because there are lots of laughs, everyone encourages each other to exceed their goals, and usually, the classes are so much fun that it’s like a party.
Life Giving Part 6
April 13, 2025
It is life-giving to plan for the future. We love to be in the now, but that now had to be scheduled somehow. Though we can let our planning get in the way of living in the now, making plans has its place as a life-giving activity.
Life Giving Part 5
April 12, 2025
It is life-giving to plan for the future. We love to be in the now, but that now had to be scheduled somehow. Though we can let our planning get in the way of living in the now, making plans has its place as a life-giving activity.
Life Giving Part 4
April 11, 2025
It is life-giving to explore new places. Many of us have cool places to visit right in our backyard. In my area of Alabama, some exciting places are within driving distance. Practically at our back door is Cheaha Mountain, the highest peak in Alabama. It has terrific views. Just south of us is Desoto Caverns. It was once the setting for a movie and was a speakeasy during prohibition. In the caverns, there is one room that is 10 stories high.
Life Giving Part 3
April 10, 2025
Our encounters with strangers can be one of our most life-giving gifts. Every day, we interact with people who are not in our circle of friends, yet these dear souls are important to us. In a way, they are our friends, but only for a minute or even seconds. They aren’t long-lasting friends with whom we share our ongoing lives, but they are our friends in that moment because we share a necessary interaction or circumstance that brings us together.
Life Giving Part 2
April 9, 2025
Our relationship with nature gives us life. Whether we are in the country or the city, there is always something of nature to which we can connect. The sky itself is life-giving, as are the sun and the moon. We may not have a nature reserve right by us, and we may not have access to a farm or field, but we have access to the air and the earth.
Life Giving Part 1
April 8, 2025
A baby’s birth is naturally life-giving because it expands our circle of love and, therefore, expands our life. Anything that brings more life and love into our sphere is life-giving. For example, family and friends are life-giving. Many of us have hobbies and organizations we consider life-giving. And there are other life-giving things we may not recognize so readily. These things may be taken for granted or simply overlooked, yet they are vital to living the spiritual life.