Posts by Nina Kylstra
Sin
You may think you have the best dog, but you’d be wrong. Klaus Von Heim, the feisty wiener dog we had when I was growing up, was the best tail-wagger ever. We acquired him from a family who had a growing pack of pooches and was willing to re-home one. Klaus, being the smallest of the lot, had learned to hold his own in all circumstances. He was a scrappy little rascal. You could almost imagine him standing on a…
Pride vs. Humility
On September 25, 2008, the largest bank failure in U.S. history occurred. I remember that day distinctly, because it was my husband Eric’s birthday…and because I was an employee of that 119-year-old bank. The turmoil had been brewing for a few years, and it all had come to a head. Despite the optimistic emails from our CEO saying a recovery was just around the corner, anyone who had glanced at a headline in the previous week knew that the inevitable…
In Praise of the Ordinary
I’ve been thinking a lot about donkeys lately. I know. You wouldn’t be the first to call me quirky. But, to continue the thought: donkeys are hardy, strong, low-maintenance creatures, and are able to thrive in many inhospitable climates and terrains. They are excellent pack animals, and even to this day, are used in many countries to transport people, essential goods and even armaments in environments that are inaccessible to modern vehicles. Have you ever given any thought to how…
Where There is Hope There is Life
The pandemic seems to have a spawned a certain number of apocalyptic memes. The Bible is unique among religious manuscripts in that it presents a complete and orderly timeline of events, beginning with the creation of the earth and ending with its dissolution. When Earth ceases to exist, what will remain? According to 1 Corinthians 13:13, that would be faith, hope and love. Of all that exists, why are these three things so essential that they should outlast creation as…
Saying Grace
“I coulda been a contender,” a grimacing Marlon Brando laments in the iconic scene in the film On the Waterfront. I actually am a contender. No, really! Let me explain. The Christian college I attended has a tradition in which a name, Bible verse and hymn is selected for each incoming class. My class name is the “Contenders,” our hymn “Fight the good fight,” and our verse is Jude verse 3: …contend for the faith that was once for all…
Obeying God
Even as a child I had an analytical bent. Ever since the fundamental concepts of logic formed in my mind, the presentation of a rule by my parents necessitated a thorough examination: When did the rule commence and when would it expire? Did it apply to my brother as well as me (since, of course, it was my self-appointed duty to keep him in line!) How would it be applied in various circumstances? (list all that come to mind) Were…
‘Tis a Puzzle
I love jigsaw puzzles. For me, assembling a good 1000-piece puzzle is just enough of a challenge without inducing the feeling of frustration. I’m rather choosy about my puzzles. If I am going to spend a significant amount of time putting it together, then I want the final product to give me joy, or at least add to my knowledge base somehow. I recently put together a doozy that depicted hummingbirds of the world, and enjoyed learning about the large…
My Name is…
Apparently, the topic of my name was the subject of much discussion between my father (who was Thai) and mother (who was American). They wanted to give their children simple names that would be valid in both languages. My maiden name, transliterated from Thai into English, is “Chairatana.” You can only imagine the number of ridiculous variations that can be derived from those letters. Over the years I have been called chair-and-sofa, catch-a-tuna, carry-a-ton-a, cherry-and-tonic and a myriad of other…
Loneliness
Former surgeon general Vivek Murthy is so concerned about the physical and psychological effects of loneliness that he has written a book to counter the effects in society. According to his research and personal experience, loneliness can increase instances of heart disease, depression, dementia, anxiety, and a host of other conditions (not that we need anything else to worry about!?). Apparently, loneliness is a global issue, causing the United Kingdom to even appoint a loneliness minister. Tracey Crouch, the first to…
Adapting to the Environment
If you are like me, part of your day in lockdown is spent aimlessly browsing through thumbnail images of movies and TV series on streaming services looking for something decent to watch. On occasion, a nature show will catch my fancy and compel me to click. My memory of watching nature shows stretches quite far back to early childhood. One vivid memory I have as a five or six year old is of watching a nature film in a crowded…