Peace is in This Moment

September 14, 2026 / colleen arnold / 8 Comments Featured

Have you ever noticed that pain and worry have a way of distracting us from the peace that’s right in front of us?

I was reminded of this recently, as I sat at the kitchen table fretting over a tall stack of worries. Something flickering outside the window caught my attention, and when I stood to investigate, I looked into the tiny face of a hummingbird. He didn’t fly away, but hovered there, watching me as I watched him. And I smiled, appreciating in that moment a simple, joyful peace.

About fifteen years ago, I visited a friend’s farmette and was enthralled by the dozens of colorful hummingbirds flying around his cottage. I set out to welcome these tiny birds to my own yard, planting what the neighbors laughingly called weeds: honeysuckle, trumpet vine, Rose of Sharon, even going so far as to dig them up from the side of the road. Friends gave me feeders that I filled with sugar-water or nectar and hung high enough not to tempt neighborhood cats.

Gradually the hummingbirds did come; so tiny and fast that I often mistook them for insects, and over the years I loved sitting peacefully on the patio with my family and morning coffee, watching the birds zoom in and zip away as they darted around each other almost instantly.

All this came back to me as I stared at that little bird through my kitchen window. He didn’t flinch or fly away but lingered there, in the moment, with me, and I remembered Jesus’s words:

“Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your lifespan? Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself (Matthew 6:26-27, 34).

That stack of future worries was entirely in my imagination, and though some of them might happen, many will not. Yes, tomorrow will take care of itself. It always does.

And peace is here in this moment – in a bird, or a flower, or a hug from someone I love.

Sometimes, that peace races away as fast as a hummingbird, but sometimes, if you pay attention, you can find it staring you right in the face.

Give Someone the Gift of Helping You

August 9, 2026 / colleen arnold / 8 Comments Featured

Recently, I took my mom for a leisurely afternoon drive to an ice cream and dairy store several towns over from her home.

We meandered down River Road as we reminisced and laughed together about my childhood days. After a while, our mouths were dry, and we were hungry; it was ice cream time.

Mom opted to wait in the car while I went in to get our treats. Inside, the dairy shop was bright and cool. Refrigerators filled with fresh milk and cheese lined one wall, while freezers full of gallons of ice cream lined another. Old-fashioned Formica tables were occupied by several people clearly enjoying their ice cream.

I ordered a hot fudge sundae for my mom and perused the long list of flavors before deciding on a cup of salted caramel for myself. Although I ordered us each a small cup, these were wonderfully large. As the clerk handed them to me, my eyes fell on the sign behind her that read, “No credit or debit cards accepted.”

She must have seen my face fall, and she said, “Yes, we’re a cash-only business.” I never have cash, so this was a deal-breaker, but I answered that maybe I could scrounge up some out in the car.

“If I’m not back in two minutes, it means I couldn’t find any. I’m so sorry!” I said as the ice cream sat woefully waiting on the counter.

I headed out, and just as the door was about to close behind me, I heard a man shout, “Wait!” He had just paid for his purchase and said, “I have some cash left.” He turned to the clerk and asked, “How much is it?” When she answered, his face fell. “I’m sorry,” he said, turning back to me, “I don’t have that much.

“Oh, wait a minute,” a lady in line behind him said. “I have a little extra.” She piled a handful of change on the counter. Before I knew what was happening, everyone in the shop was digging in their pockets, adding quarters and wadded-up dollar bills onto the counter.

“Ok, Ok,” the clerk laughed. “You’ve all got it covered.”

“Thank you,” I murmured as I picked up the large cups, very appreciative but also very embarrassed.

After I got back in the car, grateful tears welled up, and I told my mom what happened.

“Yes,” she said, “it was nice of them to help us out. But it was also nice of you to let them.”

I’ve thought a lot about her comment. If the donations hadn’t happened so fast, I probably wouldn’t have accepted them. I don’t like the uncomfortable feeling of being “indebted” to someone else, especially when I could have easily paid for my treats if credit cards were accepted.

But it occurs to me that if we don’t let others help us, the world will get out of practice at doing it.

Maybe we need to let go of our pride a little more often.
Maybe we need to be a little better at accepting the generous ways others volunteer to assist us.
Maybe we can tamp down our egos a bit and let others experience the joy of helping someone else.

The world is full of good people. We just need to give them a chance to show it. Food for thought 😊

And yes, the ice cream was delicious!

Where Does Time Go?

July 21, 2026 / colleen arnold / Leave a comment

It’s hard to believe it’s already been a year since I retired from medicine. Where did the time go? I share the sentiment with friends who nod in agreement and shrug, as if to say, “Who knows? But I feel the same way.”

Life is too short to let it race by without paying attention. It’s also too short to spend it doing things that aren’t fulfilling. So now that the newness of retirement and of getting married again after all these years of widowhood is behind me, I’m doing some self-searching.

Here’s how the questions look for me; maybe the list will give you some ideas of your own.

Is most of my time spent doing something meaningful and enjoyable? Does it reflect my beliefs about God? Family? Love?

Am I stopping regularly to notice and relish the little moments of joy and wonder? The vast night sky, the buzzing of a hummingbird, or the sweetness of a perfect summer watermelon?

Am I saying “yes” to things I don’t really want to do, to be a people-pleaser, or because my ego talks me into it? Or have I said “yes” to so many wonderful things that I jump from one to the next in a constant blur of busyness?

Am I saying “no” to things I want to do because I’m afraid of what could go wrong? Or worried about what others might say?

Am I balancing care for others with care for myself – getting enough sleep, enjoying healthy food, setting aside time for quiet prayer, exercising regularly?

Like me, spend some time reflecting and writing down your thoughts. Because now comes the harder part. If my honest answers point to a problem, it’s time to do things differently.

Can I spend less time scrolling the internet and reading social media?

Can I delegate things that don’t fulfill me and focus more on those that do?

Can I spend less time on my projects and more time on my people?

Can I honestly assess my time and accept that I cannot do everything – even if everything I want to do is good?

I will remember to be flexible, since God’s plans might be different from mine, but even a small change can empower me to make more gradually. This mindful process helps me take time to look at my life, instead of letting it fritter away without paying attention.

After all, time is not a renewable resource.

Dear God, thank you for the blessing of time you have given.
Please help me use mine wisely and joyfully.
Amen