My eyes and ears have much learning to do in how to see and hear Jesus in daily life. I easily miss Him when life is full of adventure. I miss Him when the days are mundane. I believe He is there in all seasons. Sometimes my imperceptive eyes, by His grace, get glimpses of … More Jesus in the North
An aside from anything especially meaningful I may say in this space… Here in Waterloo Region, we are at the latter end of the peak of mating season for red-winged blackbirds, and I am duly terrified. Up until last summer, I had the mindset that birds were afraid of me. Therefore, birds did not need … More Beware the Blackbirds
Surely it will. It will be enough when the books, written by me, are on the shelves and people are smiling, snorting, crying, or shaking their heads as my words strike their funny bones or collide with their souls. Or it will be enough when words of respect and affirmation for me are spoken aloud, … More It Will Be Enough
Happy Get-Your-Life-Together-Day! (Almost). That “almost” means two things. One: It means that it is not quite “Get-Your-Life-Together-Day” (Aka Saturday) yet. Two: It means that you never actually get your life quite together. (Providing you are like me, which is a rather presumptuous thing to provide. Forgive me.) Get-Your-Life-Together Saturdays are not usually long enough. I’m … More Stray Pencils and Stray Thoughts
I would like to read a book of life hacks for people who live slowly. Perhaps it could tell me how to avoid becoming overwhelmed when there are more items on my list than hours in which to do them. Perhaps it could help me discern which parts of the speed at which I accomplish … More Life Hacks for the Turtles Among Us: The Book I Need Someone to Write
As a person who has struggled with fear, especially about my role in a world desperate with need for Christ and light and healing, the following words have been helpful for me, and are on repeat in my mind a lot these days: “Do not be daunted by the enormity of the world’s grief. Do … More A Truth & a Question (or 3)
I recently found this prayer from that other lifetime of two and a half years ago, when the little, left-over family went to Newfoundland. It was lovely and it was hard, a time of bittersweet endings and scary new beginnings and the same old struggles. As I read it, I was struck with how much … More A New-found Prayer, for Then and Now
May laughter sneak up on you from an unlikely place and rob you for a moment of your anxious thoughts. May your understanding of God grow ever closer to His actual infinite size. May you be able to graciously host sleep before you have it figured out. May you leave the anxiety of tomorrow for … More A Blessing for the Overthinker
There is a verse from Psalm 23 that says “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life.” I still think the verse with the same voice inflection and rhythm that was ingrained in me in first grade. Sometimes I feel as though it would be more accurate to say “Surely … More Insecurity Shall Follow Me?
In a conversation the other day, Dad accidentally said “fully quarantined” instead of “fully vaccinated.” I decided that “fully quarantined” is a good description for me, as I am working on completing my 14-day quarantine for the fourth time since the beginning of Covid. If quarantining could eliminate all chances of me getting the virus, … More Fully Quarantined: A Confession of my Laziness
Realizing Provision 