I had washed all the dishes that don’t fit into the dishwasher, vacuumed, and even had wiped down the stove underneath the burner grates. But when two of my guests, a small collection of the women pastors in the area, walked through the front door of my home, I realized one flaw in my plan of … [Read more…]
I wrote this last summer, on a note on my cell phone, after a particularly pleasant youth outing, and spent some time editing it this week. In the midst of the pandemic, I’m trying to remember what “together” feels like. God, you told your people all the time to remember. So at this moment help … [Read more…]
I dropped off four women in the pouring rain today. Under an awning of a darkened building downtown. Memphis and some cruel trick of the blues. Without home, but not without shelter. For one night, anyway. Just a few minutes before we were in the safety of my car. Hearing one woman question the providence … [Read more…]
I’ve been joking that I’m not sure if I’m depressed, bored, or exhausted. I don’t know the exact diagnosis, except to call it a malaise of mind, body, and spirit. (Don’t worry, I have a doctor’s appointment next week for a full workup just in case it’s physiological.) Up until the last week, I’ve kept … [Read more…]
Today is my first Sabbath day as an ordained minister. And finally, I feel like I can rest. And breathe. And reflect. And celebrate. And search. To mark the occasion, I’m writing a bit about it. And updating my blog. For starters, my home page on my blog for the past four years has listed … [Read more…]
“May he grant you your heart’s desire and fulfill all your plans!” Psalm 20:4 Shortly after my divorce, I sat in a friend’s living room, chatting about life when the conversation got serious with one simple question: “So what are your dreams now?” I opened my mouth to answer, then shut it. I opened my … [Read more…]
I’m engaging in a new endeavor beginning today: Inktober. Inktober (you can read more about it here) is the 31-day span throughout October where artists commit to using ink to create a daily offering of art. It’s kind of like NaNoWriMo (National Novel Writing Month) in November, but for visual artists. It’s my dream someday … [Read more…]
I don’t have what it takes to be a baking goddess in the kitchen. My beloved banana breads burn on the outsides but are gooey in the middle. I frequently grab baking soda when it should be powder. I never have the right amount of milk, or peanut butter, or other scrumptious addition a recipe … [Read more…]
Who am I? I’ve had the opportunity to explore this question, along with my youth group, the past month. It’s been a fruitful exploration. Each year, our youth group organizes and plans a Youth Sunday where the young people take over Sunday morning worship and do it all themselves. I insist that each year we … [Read more…]
Spending a few days back in Paducah, I’ve had some time to adequately reflect on my life the past two weeks. I spent two straight weeks at church camps. One with our presbytery at Brandon Springs in the Land Between the Lakes recreation area, and the other with Missouri Presbytery at Camp Cumberland. My first … [Read more…]