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
When life feels scattered and ungrounded, what are the core practices that help you restore order and strength? For some it’s focusing on breathing through meditation or yoga. For some it’s processing through journaling or talking with friends. For some it’s resetting your body through exercise. For me, I know… Continue reading
This is all coming up now because I’m finally in a place where the external chaos is fairly non-existent and these folks around me are challenging my core assumptions about myself and about relationships. So the cries for help from the inner me…the ME that has been buried underneath all… Continue reading
I am coming to a different kind of appreciation about the importance of identifying the ground on which you live and work. It’s about identity. It’s about tradition. It’s about community. It’s about justice and reconciliation. It’s about holding the past and the present together. This reflection was shared at the 2023 Florida/Bahamas Synod Synodical… Continue reading