Good morning... One morning this week, I noticed a chubby bird sitting a yard away from our kitchen window. How did she get there, out on this precarious ledge? I went over to enjoy a photo shoot with this big fluffy baby, and I called my husband over to observe the cute creature with me. Unfazed by us, [...]
Good morning... As our spring semester draws to an end at Northside Church, all of our Bible studies for women channel into one Zoom study for the summer. Here are this year's details. ***** Summer Reading Group 2024 A Longing to Belong: Reflections on Faith, Identity, and Race by Michelle Lee-Barnewall A blend of memoir and theological reflection, [...]
Good morning... Yesterday I walked with a friend who recently returned from her pilgrimage along the Camino de Santiago in Spain. Camino is Spanish for "way" or "path" and Santiago means "Saint James," so my friend walked the way of James, who walked the way of Jesus. For my birthday in March, this friend got me a book, [...]
Good morning... "I miss Steve's beautiful words," she responded after yesterday's post, Steve Shares Our Strife. "Thank you for sharing his inspirational thoughts here. This reminds me of a little prayer from Richard Rohr, 'God, help us to love in some small way what you love infinitely.'" "Such wisdom," I replied. "We alone cannot muster love, but, in [...]
Good morning... When I browse the chaplain's message below, written by my husband Steve, I vividly remember the story of strife he shares from our younger years. Now as I look at the unrest on college campuses and intense conflicts at home and abroad, I wonder along with Steve, "Why does God allow us to wrestle, fight and [...]
Good morning... I am still processing my most vulnerable post from this month, "Did I Suck As A Teacher?" When I taught the Enneagram to a new group of women, I let the Spirit lead. By the end of the interactive night, I felt like God left us all in the confusing dark, not understanding this ancient tool [...]
Good morning... As I have shared with you, this season in my life is saturated with learning and teaching about the Enneagram, a study of the nine basic types of people we meet in the world. This dynamic measure of spiritual transformation, conceived of by the Christian desert mothers and fathers in the fourth century, helps to explain [...]
Good morning... After days of drizzly rain, I stepped outside with our dogs at dawn. For the first time this approaching spring, I heard an invisible bird sing, sing, sing. Melodic. Mesmerizing. Mysteriously unseen. I stood a while in the soggy grass, admiring the playful song. This early morning experience drew me to a book I have loved [...]
Good morning... We are on a journey. "It's a journey that includes paying attention to yourself over a period of time, being curious about your reactions to situations, and reflecting on your inner world," encourages Marilyn Vancil on page 48 of Self to Lose, Self to Find; Using the Enneagram to Uncover Your True, God-Gifted Self. "It is, [...]
Good morning... In these early morning hours, I pull out the bulletin from Scott's celebration service. Out fall the eight small pages of notes I took during the zesty tribute. Reading through my scribblings again, the unique flavor of Scott's vibrant life comes back in full force. Scott's two brothers and a handful of friends spoke alongside our [...]
