Weighted Balloons

by   July 19, 2026 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

One of my earliest memories as a young girl is being outside with my mother and baby brother. I had a bright yellow balloon in hand from my dentist visit, but whether it slipped from my wrist or I accidentally released it, the yellow orb drifted away. It felt like a slow-motion view of something happening quickly. I remember asking my mom if she could reach it for me. She was realistic but kind with her reply. I then thought that perhaps she could get a ladder to grab it. Still, the answer was no.

They say our earliest memories are pretty foundational to how we see things. I guess I have always been looking for yellow balloons. They are the cheeriest of colors, radiating with sunshine and joy. I am pretty serious; some may even call me intense when they first meet me. Introverted and painfully shy as a child, I was slow to warm up and willing to sit in the wings and wait my turn, unless a bright, bubbly thing noticed me and invited me into the excitement.

I call these people my “yellow balloons.” They are the ones who are usually very optimistic, exuberant, joy-filled dreamers, hope-filled encouragers, often spontaneous, entering a room with a bright smile, never meeting a stranger, sometimes with a healthy dose of FOMO (fear of missing out) – much to my opposite.

They have helped me through life. Several have seen something in me that could handle a job or opportunity I would not have sought. Others have pushed me toward fun or challenges I would have let pass. They make me belly laugh at their silliness and fearless approach to humor, even in public. Their optimism and hopefulness of the future challenge me to be the same.

But, they need me, too. What am I? I affectionally call myself the balloon weight that keeps the balloon grounded at the party. I have my own pizzaz – or rather, interest. I help keep my balloons in place so they don’t drift off into ways beyond reality. I bring my own flavor of encouragement when windy and cloudy days come, reminding them of seasons and the beauty in each and the promise of their end. I stick to plans and goals, find connections, and help them to figure out how to make dreams come true. I remind them of truth when emotions blow them into storms. I am slower and more deliberate at times, helping them slow down, enjoy Sabbath, and notice small wonders in life.

We need each other for balance. Sometimes it looks like a true marriage of opposites – a covenant recognizing the need for dependence on another for a lifetime. At other times, it is a held-fast friendship. The dynamic can even show up in mentoring, coaching, and teaching relationships. Both gain wisdom and encouragement from the other.

If we are surrounded only by those like us (all balloons or all balloon weights), it becomes a silly mess. We were not made to drift about or be inflexible. Are you a yellow balloon with your head in the clouds? Call your steady balloon weight and thank them for keeping you grounded. Are you the steady weight in a relationship? Text or send a note to your yellow balloon and thank them for stretching you a little and helping you dream.

Ashlie Miller lives with a few of her favorite yellow balloons in Concord, NC. You can email her at mrs.ashliemiller@gmail.com.

Moving Forward

by   July 18, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Moving Forward

            The older I get the more I realize the human body is miraculous. We can feed it all kinds of things and it does amazing things. The deeper revelation with our bodies is that as we age there are more opportunities for things to go wrong. Doing a simple task such as washing your hands can make your back hurt. Age steals your endurance. Our tolerance for heat and cold is reduced. The systems of our body can easily be upset and it takes a while to restore them.

            The other day I hurt my back and it is taking a while to feel better. In fact, I told my Sunday school class that I was going to start a new cologne trend for older people called, “Icy Hot.” That earned me a good laugh and the realization that many in the class had tried that same brand of cologne. I am grateful for over the counter pain relievers and creams.

            Those don’t work for all the various pains we face as we age. Sometimes the hurt is in our hearts for loved ones who have gone home. That’s a whole different kind of pain that no pain reliever will help. We have to be understanding of others because that pain takes a long time to heal. It takes family, friends, and the body of Christ to help us move forward in those difficult times.

            We have to learn to walk through those times with God’s help. Grief is a process that we have to work through, but the good news is that God promises that we don’t have to do it alone. The first stage of grief is denial. How can this tragedy be true? The second stage is anger. There is a strong sense of helplessness because we can’t change the situation. The third stage is bargaining. If only I had been there! What if things had been different? The fourth stage is one that catches a whole lot of people for a long period of time…depression. When we face losses it is natural to be down and discouraged, but we can’t stay there. We have to learn to move on, and we move on into the final stage, which is acceptance. This isn’t to imply that we forget the person who is gone or that we stop missing them. This means that we come to the realization that they are gone and we begin to take steps to move forward in life.

            The grief process is mainly applied to the loss of our loved ones, but it is not excusive to those losses. We may have to work through the grief process over the loss of a job, divorce, loss of a friendship or romantic relationship, personal failures, facing serious surgeries or life threating health issues, moving because of a job change even if it’s one you desire, and moving into a retirement or nursing home. All of these traumatic events in our lives could trigger us to have to walk through the stages of grief.

            Some people might think you could escape having to work through the grief process through faith in God. While I believe God can circumvent our necessity to work through the process, I believe He is much more interested in walking with us through the process. He wants to build our faith and trust in Him. He wants to reveal His strength in our weakness. He wants us to know that He is sufficient for our needs.

            I want you to know that God sees you if you are struggling with this process. God is with you as you walk through this process. It’s not easy, but walking by faith is never easy. I think it is vital to know that you are not alone. You aren’t the only one who is going through a difficult time. Find others and share each other’s burdens. It’s strange how two people going through a difficult time in life can bring encouragement to each other.

            I want to encourage you to trust in God to help you put the pieces back together. He is willing to work with you at whatever pace works for you. He wants to help you move forward. Moving forward doesn’t mean you forget, it means that you live, bloom, grow, and become a stronger you. I believe that as God helps you through your pain He will use you to help others who face similar circumstances. God is good and His love for you is beyond what you can imagine. He is intimately involved in your situation and wants to help you move forward.  

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

The Gift

by   July 17, 2026 with No Comments

By Roger Barbee

According to a Google search I recently conducted, as many adults regularly play chess as are users of Facebook. That is a large number of the world’s population, and while I am not a user of  the latter, I play the former. My rating is about 725, which means that I am far from being a good player. But that is okay because my rating cannot gauge the satisfaction I receive from playing on-line chess: I have won a few more games than I have lost; I have had some draws; I have lost to women; I have lost to younger players; I have played players who live in a range of countries; I have been checkmated by a player waiting for a flight in an airport; I have learned about COVID in other countries through the message board; and I have been gifted by a player in India.

Recently I logged in and requested to play. The machinery spun and a player’s user name, national flag, and rating appeared on the screen. The player’s rating was about fifty points higher than mine, so I would be awarded ten points for a win, two points for a draw, and six points for a loss. I was excited because I would rather lose to a superior player than beat a lesser one; plus, sometimes I play poorer against lower rated players. So I moved my white pawn and waited for his response with a dark piece.

By my fourth or fifth move, his superior skill was causing me trouble. I could find no way to penetrate his wall of pawns, and he was beginning to advance his major pieces. I had a sinking feeling, but I continued looking for some way to gain some foothold. Yet it seemed the harder I tried, the more perilous my position was. My big blunder in losing my queen did not help my cause, and soon, mercifully, my doom was imminent. I had several pawns, one lonely king, and a rook to my opponent’s  array of powerful pieces. Then his queen captured my rook. Done! Kaput! Fried! But—wait. The result screen showed that my opponent had resigned, and I was awarded ten points for the win. I messaged him and asked why. He responded, “I am rated higher than you, and the game was not fair.” He had required me to play while not patronizing me by “letting” me win.

Fair? The game was more than fair; it was just. I was whopped by a superior player, and I wonder if he is not a superior person as well? I mean, would I resign a game I had clearly won because I was rated higher than my opponent? Do I have the character required to freely give away ten points of my rating?

He required me to play then he gave me the gift, and I do not mean the ten points. When he resigned he created a moment of kindness and gentleness. When he resigned, he demonstrated that chess on my level is more than points in a rating. When he resigned, he acted like the champion he is.

When Everyone Talks Heat!

by   July 16, 2026 with No Comments

By David Freeze

Gotta’ Run

When Everyone Talks Heat!

   No doubt about it, the first words that outdoor exercisers discuss with each other these days are about the heat. We don’t have many days near a hundred degrees in a normal summer, but when they come, hard exercise and outdoor training take a step back. Your muscles feel weak, breathing is difficult and motivation is lacking.

   I check the weather multiple times a day year-round and have my most trusted sources. I also have my trusted and proven ways to survive these most challenging extreme heat days. Here they are, listed in order of importance for me.

   More than anything else, this is the time to focus intently on proper hydration. We are a society that doesn’t worry enough about hydration, but we have to for better warm weather exercise. Lots of different sources relate how to achieve proper hydration and here are my favorites. Good hydration is round the clock, not just before running, walking etc. Don’t skimp for most of the day and then try to drink just ahead of exercise. Half your body weight in ounces, 90 ounces minimum for a 180-pound person, has to be a focus. Resolve yourself to keep your pee clear, there is no better indicator.

   Slow the pace and don’t expect your best training day. If one comes, that is a bonus, but seldom does your body rise about the warm temperatures and humidity to provide an exceptional fast paced workout. Save your interval training for another day.

    Beat the heat by rising early. Days are already getting shorter so early morning darkness lingers a little more each day. That suits me just fine, so I try to get my run done ahead of sunrise or at least the sun climbing above the treetops. If exercising during the day, be OK with finding the shade. Evenings are OK too, but expect lingering high temperatures.

    Take a walking day or even a walking break during an especially challenging run. Cut back a little in distance and be OK with it. Maybe spend some time walking to warm up or then pay attention to your pace for the distance of the walk or run. Pick it up if you feel good in the last mile.

    Fuel your tank.Your body uses glycogen (stored carbohydrates) as the main energy source when running or walking. If you haven’t eaten properly in the hours leading up to or if you’re running a long distance without refueling, your reserves deplete. You are making the hot weather situation worse, and I am always amazed at those who exercise without prior fueling.

     Get your sleep, 7-9 hours per night. Pay attention to other stressors.

    And finally, the first days of extreme heat and humidity combined make for tough training, no matter what we do. Last week with a few early morning temps in the mid-50’s didn’t get us ready for mid-70s and high humidity.

  Heat fatigue is a common challenge in running, but you can do your part. It’s a signal your body sends you. By paying attention to your preparation (nutrition, hydration, warm-up), your pace, and your overall recovery (sleep, rest), you can significantly improve your endurance and enjoy more pleasant runs. Implement these tips gradually, and you’ll see how your legs and mind thank you! And you will likely find yourself with stronger legs when the heat says goodbye.

    Our next race locally is the Run for the 29th Annual Greenway 5K and Fun Run at Overton Elementary on July 18th at 8 am. Proceeds are used to help fund the greenway system. This is Salisbury and Rowan’s second oldest race. Contact race director Steve Clark at 704-202-6601.

     We have just added the August 29th SRR Prediction Run 5K at the City Park Shelter on Lake Drive to the calendar. A prediction run consists of runners and walkers predicting their time ahead of the run and then not using any timing device to meet their prediction. There will be door prizes, awards and great refreshments for those who compete. Any pace works for us on the 3.1-mile course.

    Look for these events and a full fall slate at www.salisburyrowanrunners.org

Gotta’ Run: When everyone talks heat!

Forever Young

by   July 15, 2026 with No Comments

By Lynna Clark

A group of older ladies were clucking along in their sewing circle complaining of their aches and pains. Each of them was dealing with something different. There was a pause and one of the ladies wisely commented. “I like being old. Everybody gets to be young. But not everyone gets to be old.”

I’ve been thinking on that with David’s birthday coming up. Even though he was 69 when he passed last summer just before his July birthday, he never really acted old. His skin was smooth [he got that from his mom]. He still had good hair [he got that from his dad] until the very end. I always loved his hair. But his quick dry wit was the best sign of his young heart. I loved how funny he could be. He used to say that sarcasm was his spiritual gift. But he never made a joke at the expense of others. His wit was always kind.

I told him once that I wanted a sign for our yard for the many people using our road as a shortcut. They fly past our house through our neighborhood like a bunch of NASCAR wannabees. The sign would say, “Drive Like YOUR Grandkids Play Here!” He shook his head.. “No. We are not going to be those people.” Since I was not used to hearing the word no from him, I was truly surprised. He followed up by saying, “And we are not going to be those grumpy old people who shout at little kids in church, ‘Stop running!’ We will be the ones that hand out candy with noisy wrappers.”

He also told me one time that when he died he wanted to be cremated, mixed in with black paint and sprayed onto his motorcycle. That way he could keep on riding. So to the guy who bought his bike, stop by the houses sometime. I’ve got something special for you.

Happy Birthday in Heaven my Beloved. Though I’m glad you aged well, I’m even more thankful that now you are forever young.

Cuckoo Prayers

by   July 12, 2026 with No Comments

By Ashlie Miller

If you have a toddler in your life, you know they can become obsessed with almost anything. For many, it’s choo-choo trains, earth movers, cartoon characters, dinosaurs, and rocket ships, but there are plenty who have very specific fascinations with unique objects.  Just this week, I saw a video of a tiny toddler who puts his hand over his heart anytime he sees an American flag – on boxes, packages, canned items, and more (hooray for goods still made in the U.S.A.).

As a mom of five, I have ridden the waves of multiple obsessions. One of my favorites was my oldest’s discovery of cuckoo clocks. Back in the day of dial-up modems, we would often take a few minutes a day to find videos of a German clock-maker’s collection sale. My son was entranced and could identify all the parts of these clocks when he was 2 years old and didn’t mind sharing his knowledge with anyone who would listen.

He carried that obsession for several years. At one point, he started praying that God would give him one. As a one-income family keeping track of every dollar we needed, we did not seriously consider the luxury of such a clock.

One Tuesday morning at a midweek ladies’ Bible study, we were discussing prayer. I must have used this childlike prayer as an illustration of some prayers receiving a “no” for an answer. About two weeks later, a lady from that group came up to me at church saying with a knowing grin, “I have something for you. Actually, it’s for your son.” Without any sense of decorum whatsoever, I blurted, “I think I know what it is!” I am not sure why such boldness exploded from me at that moment, but she laughed and said, “I have had this cuckoo clock for years in a closet, unopened. I would like for him to have it.”

Surprised, delighted, amazed – these reactions were shared among our small family. The story is part of our family folklore – stories demonstrating God’s care and concern for the things that delight us. Since that time, our family has seen many more answers to prayer. Some have been big and others, seemingly trivial, but not to the one asking.

When was the last time you asked God for something that others would deem as trivial? If you’re above the age of 13, it may have been a long, long time. It seems we stop asking in childlike faith far too soon in life, before we even understand the beauty of the relationship with a Heavenly Father.

Life’s circumstances and troubles often leave us jaded; the world we live in may leave us pessimistic and disillusioned. Yet, if we know God as our redeeming Father, He is still there, waiting to be asked, waiting to experience the playful relationship and the childlike faith and trust that come with asking. Pray for the big things, but pray for the simpler things, too.

Celebrating & Struggling

by   July 11, 2026 with No Comments

By Doug Creamer

Celebrating and Struggling

            I hope you had some good food and some great fellowship over the 4th of July weekend. It is a special time to gather together and celebrate our great nation. It is good to slow down and connect with those who mean so much to us.

            Our family gathered at my brother’s house, where you don’t have to be family to come and enjoy. One thing that came to mind while I was enjoying our gathering was that some of our family wasn’t present. I am not talking about those who live long distances away who were unable to travel and join the festivities. I was thinking about those who are no longer with us.

            Holidays are great gathering times. We get to be together and enjoy eating great food. It can be difficult to know the family is gathering but some will not be there. We miss those who have gone ahead. There is a little hole in our hearts as we celebrate each holiday. It should remind us to hug those we have a little tighter and cause us to be more present with those who are still with us. We don’t know the future so we need to learn to appreciate the present and the gift that each person is to our gatherings.

            I wrote a column recently about celebrating good news from people who had successful surgeries. A reader wrote to remind me that not everyone has successful surgeries or receives healing. She wanted me to acknowledge that even if we bathe people in prayer, sometimes things do not turn out the way we are hoping. She is correct. Some who seek healing from God may end up facing long surgeries and painful recoveries. Others may not survive even though many have prayed for them.

            Through the difficulties and challenges we have to understand that God is sovereign and that He can do the amazing and the miraculous. Sometimes He chooses not to do it and that is something that we don’t understand. I believe sometimes God chooses to walk with us through the trials and difficulties. I think His reason is that He wants to reveal more of Himself to us. We know and understand so little about our infinite God.

            I also believe when things are going great in life very few of us seek to know God better. We don’t NEED Him because at the moment we can make it through the challenges we face without His help. It seems like it takes something big to make us realize that we really do need Him. If we experience the miraculous we will celebrate and then often return to depending on ourselves. We will often not press in to know Him in a deeper way.

            I have learned through many dark and difficult times in my life that faith in God and trusting in Him has been the only thing that has helped me make it through. Sometimes I feel His presence strongly. Other times God has sent me a good friend who has stood with me and helped me back to my feet. These friends have spoken words of life and hope and given me the courage to keep moving forward. Someone put it to me this way once. We must have God to make it through the dark and difficult times in life but sometimes we need someone with skin to help and hold us.

            I think when it comes to praying for healing, we have to determine no matter what the outcome, we land on Jesus. If He heals, praise God! If He doesn’t heal, praise God! This will ultimately teach us to live in the moment, to love and appreciate each other deeply. We will learn to express our love and appreciation for each other. We will understand that tomorrow is not guaranteed and that we need to learn to live in the moment.

            I want to encourage you to trust God in every situation. No matter what the outcome, God is in control and He has His eye on you. He has not forgotten you. He is present with you as you walk through the challenges and difficulties. He wants you to know Him in a deeper and more profound way. Some things in life are tragic and leave us broken, but He is a God who tenderly and patiently puts the pieces of our lives back together. We each play an important role in this process. Our job is to love, care for, sit with, listen, try to understand, be compassionate, and to help the person take steps to move forward. In that way we become His hands and His feet.

Contact Doug Creamer at PO Box 777, Faith, NC 28041or doug@dougcreamer.com

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