“When I am here, I forget clocks and bells, and all the things that occupy me while I’m being Dutch.” -Dragons in the Waters, Madeline L’Engle While I’m not Dutch and don’t pretend to be, the wistful nature of the above statement had this book on rewind for several minutes. I wasn’t sure why it […]
Seeing Me in Him
I’ve admittedly wondered why God had allowed a raging, spirit-filled fire like mine to be quenched; even for a season. I thought I had been loving e-v-e-r-y-o-n-e well. I don’t claim perfection, but like Job, I’ve begged God to show me what I had done wrong, what I hadn’t done right, why He’d given me […]
Earthly Fathers
“I didn’t raise you to be so judgmental!” Soul crushing words as my dad and I argued theology. I was in my teens. My parents had recently divorced, and I’d been pursuing a far too conservative angle in my efforts to connect with God; to make sense of my young life…in his opinion. But he […]
Process of Becoming
Last night I went out and hit a local watering hole in effort to be social, make connections, and maybe sing a tune or two. It was a great night, although I had a sense of vulnerability I couldn’t put my finger on. As I made my way to the car, a female bar tender […]
Vines and Branches
I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, as I also remain in […]
It’s gonna be better
This morning I found myself praying to God that He bring me back to the place I was before, where I’d felt so connected and in community, serving my purposes intentionally…filled with His joy, my strength. The quiet response was something I’d considered in passing prior, but needed to revisit. The last few years have […]
BUT
“Put out into the deep and let down your nets for a catch.” And Simon answered, “Master, we toiled all night and took nothing. But at your word I will let down the nets”…and they came and filled both the boats…”do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching (wo)men.” Luke 5: 5, […]
Shaming into action
It can’t be done. I mean, it can, but it’s not effective long-term and in the end everyone loses. The desired behavior may be demonstrated for a while, but eventually the shamed individual will exhaust themselves in all the striving, or perhaps never try to begin with, the shame being so heavy. You don’t know […]
Isolation
Ever felt isolated? Been feeling isolated and it’s been a minute? Yeah. People have been telling me to get comfortable being by myself. I mean, I get what they’re saying, but humans were made for fellowship, and one of the first accessible observations God made was that it wasn’t good for man to be alone. […]
Not fooling anyone
I mowed the lawn yesterday. I love mowing, the cadence of the engine, the monotony. Singing, thinking. Typically I mow in circles. I jokingly say that if aliens come to earth they’re hitting my house first because of the bullseye I formed around it. Yesterday was dandelion day. While it’s been dry and the grass […]