Tag Archives: commitment

Has Your Life Blown Off Course?

Posted on February 23, 2023 by mitchteemley

I recently wrote about a friend who’d left his marriage and begun divorce proceedings. I urged him to rethink his decision, to break the cyclical infatuation/divorce pattern that is his family’s multigenerational legacy. But he chose instead to perpetuate it. … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , , | 68 Comments

The “I Love You” Game

Posted on February 16, 2023 by mitchteemley

I have a friend who’s unhappy in his marriage and is thinking of leaving. This is the conversation I hope to have with him. “What should I do?” he asks, not really wanting to hear the answer. “Put it to … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Our Unnatural Love

Posted on March 3, 2022 by mitchteemley

It’s my wife Trudy’s birthday. We celebrated with dinner and a concert last night and will continue celebrating this weekend. And then, two weeks from now, we’ll celebrate our engagement anniversary—the day we chose to do something completely unnatural, to … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor | Tagged , , , , , , , | 70 Comments

Beyond Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 17, 2022 by mitchteemley

Soulmate (noun): Someone you’re “made for” and don’t have to work at loving. Someone you choose to continue loving every day. Love is a choice we keep on making.

Posted in Humor, Popular Culture & Entertainment, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , | 22 Comments

Commitment Takes Courage

Posted on August 23, 2021 by mitchteemley

Photo by Andre Gaulin “Have you ever committed yourself to something without realizing it would permanently alter the course of your life?” ~The Wishing Map Thought for the Week Planning is making a list of ‘Things to do at the … Continue reading →

Posted in Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , , , , | 19 Comments

The Day We Met

Posted on January 14, 2021 by mitchteemley

I had no idea the person I’d just met (39 years ago yesterday) would change my life forever, and almost entirely for good (the “almost” is purely subjective—those are the parts of each other we haven’t finished fixing yet). I’m … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 85 Comments

35 Years Ago Today

Posted on September 15, 2020 by mitchteemley

It didn’t make world headlines, but 35 years ago today I married a woman who changed my life forever. Oh, I’d been “in-love” a few times before, only to have those all-important giddy-gooey feelings fade away. But then, nearly a … Continue reading →

Posted in For Pastors and Teachers, Humor, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , | 167 Comments

Set Aside Your Fears and Walk!

Posted on September 8, 2019 by mitchteemley

Moonrise over the Sea of Galilee, the same body of water upon which Jesus called Peter to do the impossible, to set aside his fears and walk.

Posted in Culture, For Pastors and Teachers, Quips and Quotes, Religion/Faith | Tagged , , , , , | 24 Comments

Engaged!

Posted on March 18, 2019 by mitchteemley

Engaged  [inˈɡājd, enˈɡājd] Definition: A state of being firmly and continuously connected.  E.g. “A car cannot move until its gears are engaged; when they are disengaged, it ceases to move forward.” My wife and I got engaged 34 years ago today. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Memoir, Quips and Quotes | Tagged , , , , , | 58 Comments

But Did He Love Me?

Posted on February 14, 2019 by mitchteemley

I chose to write this true story about a favorite relative in first person in order to retain the impact it had on me. I was never sure if he loved me. I mean right off, Burt liked my sister. … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture, Memoir | Tagged , , , , , , , | 43 Comments