And in that space, Jesus expands his imagination: God’s love is not narrow or conditional. It is wide. It is generous. It is for the world. We often interpret in-between seasons as examinations. Prove your faith.Prove your devotion.Prove you’re growing. But Lent is less about proving something and more about… Continue reading
Ash Wednesday (and sermon prepping) brings me back to the wilderness. Each year, Lent begins with an invitation into the wilderness — in the reminder that we are dust and with a reflection on the story of Jesus being led by the Spirit into the desert. Jesus’ experience in the… Continue reading
To the casual observer, the yellow dish on my shelf does not mean much. It is handmade. Simple. Sun-warmed in color. The kind of thing you might pass in a thrift store without a second thought. It was mine once.Then I gave it to my friend Nicole.And after she was… Continue reading
Advent does its quiet, steady work, reminding us that the chaos of now does not undo the promise of God’s love. It reminds us that Jesus has already come near, and will come near again. It reminds us to stay awake not out of fear, but out of hope—to notice… Continue reading
Crackling leaves on a hurried evening walk. Rustling jackets in the frenzy of getting out the door. Buzzing alarm clocks in the darkness of early morning. Autumn has a particular soundtrack, doesn’t it? It’s not the bright energetic sounds of summer—full of laughter, insects, and long evenings—but something quieter, layered,… Continue reading
I recently participated in a walk for Alzheimer’s, which not only gave me an opportunity to do something in memory of my dad, but also modelled some things I think we could be reminded about in the church. Here are some of those reminders: An annual fundraising walk for the… Continue reading
The drive from my mom’s house to the memory care unit where my dad lives is becoming familiar. Past the thrift store I keep meaning to stop in to browse. Around the corner and up the hill, and then right at the light by the rehab center. When my parents moved… Continue reading
I was worried about my capacity to ‘be kind to myself’ and manage the emotional roller coaster I’d been on for what felt like too long… A year later, I’m doing okay. One year ago I sat on the patio of a brewery and read a bit from a book… Continue reading
I just gotta say…I’m not a fan. It’s not personal and I’m trying not to be too judgmental because I know you have a role and a purpose. But I’m not a fan in this moment. I was doing okay–well, even. I felt like I was finally settling in to… Continue reading
Maybe [Jesus] felt the pressure of his mom’s faith. Maybe he struggled to trust his dad’s love for him. Maybe he was burdened by the expectation that he was supposed to be the one to bring a word of hope to those who were suffering. Maybe some days he just… Continue reading