Navigating Life's Storms One Wave at a Time

I'm currently knee-deep in deadlines, surrounded by a sea of writing projects with waves of words crashing over me like a relentless storm. In these moments, my mind is drawn back to Peter as he walked on the water. Yes, I know I just did an entire series of devotions about this particular event, but bear with me as we look at another angle of Peter’s sinking desperation.

Traditionally, we view Peter's conflict with the sea as a warning against losing faith when he looked at the storm instead of keeping his gaze on Jesus. And while that’s true, there's another angle worth exploring, especially when our to-do lists feel as vast as the ocean.

Dana Rongione 02/09/2023 Dana Rongione 02/09/2023

Plot Holes or Potholes?

You know that feeling when you're in the zone, pounding away on a keyboard, and in the middle of a writing sprint that's like a caffeine rush for your creativity? (If you’re not a writer, you’ll have to equate this to some other project you’re elbow-deep in.) So there I was, watching my tale come alive on the screen and giggling in excitement. The story was full of twists and turns, excitement, mystery, and anything else I could throw at it. And the best part of all? It was almost finished!

Dana Rongione 04/04/2023 Dana Rongione 04/04/2023

Tired of Playing Games

A little over a week ago, I was reading through the Lewis Carroll classic Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. It had been so long since I had read the tale that I wanted to refresh my memory. At one point, I laughed aloud while wiping tears from my cheeks. It wasn’t that the scene was that comical but rather that I could relate so very well at that moment.

While playing croquet with the Queen of Hearts, Alice soon discovers that the game is anything but ordinary. The mallets were live flamingoes, and live hedgehogs served as the croquet balls. The card soldiers bent backward to form the arches through which the balls could roll. The problems with this setup were many.

Dana Rongione 07/11/2022 Dana Rongione 07/11/2022

When All You Have Is Just a Little Strength

I know thy works: behold, I have set before thee an open door, and no man can shut it: for thou hast a little strength, and hast kept my word, and hast not denied my name. - Revelation 3:8

Each time I come across this verse, I’m reminded of its usage in my favorite movie, Facing the Giants. Though it is a film centered around a football team (which is typically not my thing), the spiritual applications within the movie have impacted my life in so many ways.

Dana Rongione 14/09/2022 Dana Rongione 14/09/2022

Growing Tired of Square One

I've spent the past two weeks recovering from a severe flareup from my back injury and let me tell you, it's been excruciating. Not just the pain, mind you, though that was enough to keep me in bed for over a week. But the frustration of knowing that once I was better, I would have to start back at square one. Boy, am I tired of square one!!!

18/07/2022 18/07/2022

Whack-a-Mole

Have you ever played Whack-a-Mole? I'm not too fond of that game. No matter where I hit or how hard I strike, that silly mole pops out of a different hole, eluding my efforts to squash him. Since it's a game, I assume it was designed for entertainment, but it only causes me frustration. After ten minutes of expending copious amounts of energy and strategic thought, I'm left with that cheesy weasel grinning back at me in victory. What a massive waste of time and energy! Next game, please.

13/07/2022 13/07/2022

Some Days, It's the Little Things

We’ve hit full-on summer here in Wales. This week, the temperatures range from 72 to 80 degrees, which is quite warm for this area. I used to laugh at those who talked about how hot it was at these temperatures since I was used to SC summers of 100 degrees and more. But, my body has adapted to the cooler climate of Wales because this weather feels quite warm to me. It’s beautiful, but a bit toasty, especially since most places (including ours) have no air conditioning.