Author Archives: joyocala

The summer of 1996 was my last idyllic summer. I didn’t know it, but my life was about to plunge into the valley of shadows. While visiting my mother in Chicago, I discovered the book Cloister Walk in a local … Continue reading →

Fuller was a beautiful black Labrador retriever that had perfect attendance in my multi-variable calculus class. You’ve probably guessed; he was a seeing-eye dog for one of my students, Craig. I had about 70 students in two sections of the … Continue reading →

Great. I get the blog for 9/11. Seventeen years, it has been. Most of our young people from K-12 were not even alive when the World Trade Center’s twin towers became crumbled mortar and ash. Think of this: seventeen years … Continue reading →

It can be intensely difficult when a loved one suffers, especially if we are the caregiver. We try so hard but feel so helpless. If only we could say the right thing, do the best thing, cook the most comforting … Continue reading →

Some Christians perceive the Bible to be literal and each scripture is exactly as it was during Biblical times. Others read it as God approved, God inspired snapshots of life and interpretations of what our job is to fulfill His … Continue reading →

“The time has come,” he said. “The kingdom of God has come near. Repent and believe the good news!” – Mark 1:15 I sat at my computer, excited to send an email to a group of friends. I typed in … Continue reading →

It’s 6:15 AM, I hear a soft voice on the stairway whisper, “Theresa, Bye. I’m leaving now.” It’s my sister Pauline, off on the next leg of her summer adventure. Four weeks ago, she left her home in Missouri and … Continue reading →

I learned Greek in order to read the New Testament in its original language. Occasionally the Greek reveals something a translation doesn’t show. For example this verse from Paul: “I received from the Lord what I also handed on to … Continue reading →

A student in my statistics class had come to my office for help. He was plenty capable, but since he was very active in student government and in his fraternity, he hadn’t put in the time needed to master the … Continue reading →

Ours is a unique community. When I say “community” I refer to it in two – well, maybe three – ways. I will start with the biggest working to the smallest. I will do this using “the wave factor.” The … Continue reading →