<p>Opening my inbox, a few email subject titles made me laugh out loud. One subject line was &#8220;Travel Awaits,&#8221; another read &#8220;Greece is calling,&#8221; and another stated, &#8220;We have travel destinations for July.&#8221; Before retirement, I traveled extensively as part of my professional responsibilities and continue to receive advertisements from airlines, hotels, and booking sites.<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2025/06/16/advent

<p>&#8220;For the Lord sees not as man sees: man looks on the outward appearance, but the Lord looks on the heart,” 1 Samuel 16:7. These flowers are considered by some to be wild and by others to be weeds. Perhaps they interfere with the growth of our own plants. They may intrude on our carefully landscaped flower beds or<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2021/04/14/start-the-dialogue/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Start the D

<p>It is rare to have a conversation with a friend or loved one and not hear the word “hope.” It is a frequent word in our vocabulary because it indicates anticipation, optimism, expectation, and even courage to face what might happen in the future. Even in our lowest times, we remain hopeful. In order to<a class="more-link" href="https://terryovertonbooks.com/2020/08/17/hope-and-worry/">Continue reading <span class="screen-reader-text">&#8220;Hope and Worry&#8221;</span></a>