There’s a word in Swahili that I resonate with: vumilia. It basically means “persevere.”But the way my dad used to translate it is, keep on keeping on—which feels a little different than “just hang in there.” It’s less about barely making it through,and more about a steady, grounded choosing to continue. I’ve… Continue reading
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
It feels like in so many aspects of public life, locusts are swarming. But what if that’s not the end of the story? “You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied and praise the name of the Lord your God, who has dealt wondrously with you.And my people shall never again be put to… 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
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
Car trip games are a necessity with 5 kids and no electronics, I suppose. We spent lots of time in the car growing up; and before the days of Walkmans and Game Boys, my parents had to find ways to keep our fidgeting and poking at one another to a… Continue reading
Recently when I went on my run (okay…jog) after work, for some reason the voice coach on my running app wasn’t working. Usually it tells me how I’m doing and how far I’ve come. It will give me an update on my pace and distance, which gives me just enough… Continue reading