Last week I was looking for something in our storage room – the one that my delightfully OCD husband keeps in tip-top shape. It is not musty, or damp, or basement-y so I feel like it’s ok to go there.
But the other day, as I was looking, I saw, back behind an old dog dish, the outline of something dark and suspicious that I thought could possibly be Something I Do Not Allow. Continue reading
On Fridays I try to post just a few of the things that have delighted or inspired me, and resources you might like – the “soul food” from my week.
I would love to hear about your “soul food” in the comments too! Just remember, if you’re posting for the first or second time it won’t appear immediately, but it WILL show up eventually 🙂
Monday I wrote a hard post that many of you resonated with. On Tuesday, Ruth Haley Barton posted an eReflection from her excellent book, Life Together in Christ. that is a great follow-up to my post. You can read her thoughts here: Continue reading
The other day it snowed again. Yes, in case you’ve lost track it’s the end of March.
The year we moved to Minnesota there were flurries on May first.
This is just so wrong. But we’re a hardy folks up here in Lake Wobegon country don’tcha know.
But this morning the sun came out and it’s supposed to hit 40 degrees and I saw a bunny hopping across my path so maybe God isn’t dead.
The thing is, when life is ugly (and even when it’s beautiful), I think the most important spiritual discipline is paying attention – being wholeheartedly present in the moment and alert to God. Continue reading
Two weeks ago my best friend from college called on a Sunday afternoon to tell me she has been diagnosed with ALS.
Yes, that ALS – the horrific Lou Gehrig’s disease that eats away at your muscles til you are a rag doll of your former self.
Arms and legs progressively stop functioning . It also impacts your voice and breathing; lifespan shortens as complications related to lung function intrude.
I simply could. not. deal. I couldn’t accept that my vibrant full-of-LIFE friend with the most infectious laugh on earth might have to experience this crippling horror.
Instead of leaning in, I wanted to lean out. Instead of turning towards, I wanted to turn away. Continue reading
Two weeks ago I stood on the shore of the Sea of Galilee at Capernaum where Jesus did most of His ministry.
And I listened.
The breeze ruffled the water and ironically, a rooster crowed in the distance.
Was the Lord reminding me of my “Peter-ness”? My tendencies to run fast and crash hard and get so excited that I don’t make wise choices? Continue reading
A couple of weeks ago this book showed up in my mail.
I flipped through it, but didn’t read closely til a few days later when I was looking out at the bare space and pile of stump chips where our beautiful maple tree used to be, reflecting on the losses in my life this past year. (and yes, that is snow coming down in the picture, making this all the more depressing!)
I picked up Broken Hallelujahs again, and found such relevance, especially for this Holy Week. Continue reading
My friend Molly texted our small group what we in our family call “a scathingly brilliant idea” this week.
Her thought was to create an Instagram account called “My Real Life”. Â She even sent us the first two posts. I love her and I want to give her high fives.
There’s a healthy drive for authenticity everywhere these days.
A backlash against Martha Stewart crafty perfection, and happy clappy Christians who “have it all together”, and women who are expected to bring home the bacon and fry it up in a pan while simultaneously helping their kids with a science project involving earthworms and looking like Tina Fey (with her sense of humor).
This longing for “real” is good. We’re responding to fakery and stress tied to impossible standards.
But what about aspiring to our better selves? Continue reading
Who are your people? Do you have a group of friends who are your tribe, or your “home team”? Those people you can tell the truth to and they won’t throw you out? They may kick you in the butt when that’s needed, but they’ll also hug you and say “It’s gonna be ok honey”.
My husband, John, has gotten a little bit sick of me raving about a community of young married couples I have the privilege of hanging out with. They are called Catalyst, and they inspire the socks off me.
Right from the start, they have leaned into the sacrament of community. They are my heroes in this regard.
There are five vivid snapshots of our life-together that come to mind, highlighting characteristics of authentic, life-giving community. I thought they might be helpful to share: Continue reading
Hey friends, I don’t know about you, but around here it’s been quite a downer of a week. It just seems that all the news from both friends and the world at large, is H.E.A.V.Y.
Sure, sometimes the appropriate response is a sarcastic “Your problems are soooo real!”
We need safe places to be real about our mess, but we also need to balance our pain with the discipline of genuine gratitude.
Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 1 Thes. 5:18
So, after a week of ugly politics, continued war, hard diagnoses, hurting marriages, and loss on many fronts, here’s some stuff I’m thankful for. Continue reading
I read what’s on my computer and feel like I’ve been slapped in the face as I sit at a table in Starbucks. Tears leak out, running down my cheeks and I dash to grab some napkins, turning my face to the wall, hoping no one will notice.
I know I’m not alone. We’ve all had moments like this.
You wonder if you’ve been used and discarded, if you’re unself-aware, if you were stupid for thinking you had something to offer of value to the relationship, or the job, or the community, or anyone anywhere in the entire universe.
And you tell yourself it shouldn’t matter. Your true self is the one that is valued and cherished by God. No.Matter. What.
You tell yourself that the opinion of “that person” shouldn’t have power over you. But it does. Continue reading
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