If you Google “the Bible” and “justice,” you’ll find lots of websites that walk you through the story of Joseph (the guy who had the coat of many colors), you’ll find mentions of mercy, and there will be a lot of Psalms. You might stumble across the mention of Biblical justice.
Read More
Dying eggs. Baking a ham and whipping up fluffy salads. Picking out the finest pastel dress from your closet and maybe a matching hat. Hiding those eggs for little kiddos to find (or maybe just your friends). Picking up some chocolate bunnies and sugar-coated marshmallow chickies to nibble on for weeks to come. Despite their fun and entertainment, the accessories of Easter can take a lot of work and attention. It is easy to get wrapped up in all of these activities and forget what Easter is.
Read More
My preschool friends and I headed out for a walk. First, we descended down the slippery slope, we stopped at the two tall trees, and then we crossed over the “bridge” (currently buried in snow). At last, we had arrived - we were at Pine Tree Patch! This is a frequent destination for my young friends who will spend their time pretending to be animals or finding sticks and building shelters or making up games where they take turns chasing each other.
Read More
Mary Elizabeth, Mary Elizabeth - the glue is new!?! The gleeful voice of a three year old calls from across the classroom.
Yeah, bud! It’s a new glue stick, I respond.
He holds it out to me, completely smitten with the new tool.
It’s red!
Preschoolers are a study in contrasts. They are full of energy and want to talk to their friends, stay completely engaged in everything that’s going on, and overhear every possible conversation. But their bodies need to recharge. These two opposite “needs” make naptime an interesting part of the day in a preschool classroom.
Read More
I’ve always been a solo hiker. That’s what originally drew me to hiking...the opportunity to be alone with my own thoughts and feelings and fears. To face new challenges and push my limits. Setting myself up for success in the face of any and every possibility. My pack was perfect: Headlamp, snacks, water, extra layers, socks, rain layer, band-aids, knife, lighter..
Read More
We have a sandbox at school. My students like to make sand pies, dig to the bottom of the box, make tracks, build sandcastles. Everyday is a completely new adventure when it comes to the sandbox. The other day, I sat down by a tiny human (about three years old) who decided to build a sandcastle. He chose the perfect pail and perfect shovel. Then he sat down to begin his work. He meticulously shoveled sand into the pail until it was full. After a few tugs on the pail, he managed to turn it over into the sandbox to dump the sand out. As he pulled the pail up, I watched the sand topple down in a messy heap. I took a breath, prepared to reassure him that we could try again together. But he looked at me with the proudest smile you’ve ever seen, and giggled.
Read More
I’ve been reflecting on security a lot. My cat finds security in cozy spots - the space between the toilet and the sink, under the covers of my bed, a box of clothes to donate sitting on my closet floor, or even the back of a kitchen cabinet if I accidentally leave it open. When he’s scared or nervous, he’ll crawl into those places because they make him feel safe.
Read More
We’re always on the way to someplace or something or someone. Our sights are always set on what’s next. We channel our energy and time into getting through whatever is going on right now so that we can get to that. It’s getting through the Tuesdays and Wednesdays of life to get to the Saturdays and Sundays. But what if God wants us to savor those Tuesdays and Wednesdays, those times of “in between”? What do we miss when we just power through to the “end goal?”
Read More
Are you feeling a little shaken up these days? Between a pandemic, maybe some crazy weather (Nashville, I’m looking at you), protests and marches...the world is definitely doing some shaking. And in between all of that, you’re still trying to live life. Holding down a job that may or may not be satisfying / secure / consistent / enjoyable. Maintaining relationships with friends and family. Keeping a clean house and feeding yourself something besides popcorn and granola. It’s a lot.
Read More
Several times in my life - for one reason or another - I have found myself in seasons during which I didn’t take communion. I moved and didn’t have a church home. I was travelling every weekend. Or I just felt disconnected from God
Read More
Being alone means different things. It can be a solo hike through the woods while you listen to the whisper of trees, commune with the birds, and savor solitude that can’t be found inside walls. It can be a cross-country drive that’s filled with audiobooks, podcasts, and music you refuse to listen to in the company of others. The journey is space for you to settle into who you are before arriving at the destination.
Read More
I did a crazy thing today. It’s not the first time and it probably won’t be the last. But most people would probably call this one of the craziest. I signed on for a new (more expensive) apartment. Not a big deal, right?
Read More
I always start hikes with a great level of enthusiasm. My pace is quick (probably too quick) and my ponytail bounces, even on the steepest of hills. Because I typically hike alone, I use an app to track my progress. It ensures that I stay on the trail and provides a resource in case the trail blazes disappear (which they occasionally do...especially in snowy conditions).
Read More
CONGRATULATIONS! You just landed your dream job. You’re going to dive in and start changing the world one [insert your primary task] at a time. There’s a post on your Instagram and Facebook. All of your friends know. Maybe you go out to celebrate with your family - sushi, anyone?
Read More
Wait - is anyone here religious? It’s the follow-up to a slightly off-colored joke. But everyone is talking and the conversation has moved on. I shrug. I’m what most people would consider religious, but I’m not easily offended. It had become normal to “shrug off” my religion. I had left the comfort of the Bible belt and was making my own way in the world.
Read More
So often, we can’t see past the space right around us. We can get caught up in trying to see past the fog and figure out a way out of it. But maybe God just wants us to be in the fog for a little bit. Because it’s in that space that faith becomes a real thing...not just something we talk about.
Read More
I’m in one of those seasons of life that makes me question a lot. I’m questioning my motivations and passions and work habits. The future seems like a mass of unknowns and the past seems like a patchwork of disconnected experiences. Despite being 29 years old, I’m still not sure what I want to be when I grow up.
Read More
Hiking is one of my things. In 2018, I visited all 56 state parks in Tennessee… and then decided to do a bit of wandering because I needed more trails (there are plenty more trails in Tennessee, but I was ready for something different). So, I took off.
Read More
It’s a simple question: “Where are you from?” The question seems innocent enough, but I never know what people are actually asking. From where did you drive to arrive in this place? What does your license say? Where did you grow up? Where do you call home? North Carolina. Tennessee. Arkansas. My car.
Read More