There Is No Cure
Good morning... First, I snapped a photo of this original painting I saw on the shelf at Goodwill. The word "broken" in the top right corner is brought to life in a graphic display. At some point along life's way, the experience of "broken" unexpectedly unravels each of us. Next, I was deeply touched by a message in my inbox. This insightful excerpt depicts an incurable quality at the core of our very [...]
Suicides. Suffering. Sunshine.
Good morning... "Praying for you and Steve," she texted prayers for my husband and me. "So much grief and sadness in our community and in our world. The Lovett School has been hit hard with death in just a few weeks and I am so sorry for the loss of your friend." "Our daughter is at UNC," she went on to explain. "There were two student suicides on campus this weekend. One person [...]
The Healing Power Of Pets
Good morning... God's healing power is exchanged by touch; Jesus knew this fact full well. The entire crowd eagerly tried to come near Jesus, to touch him to receive healing, because a tangible, supernatural power emanated from him and healed all who came close to him (Luke 6:19, TPT). Tender touch is powerfully transformative. With Jesus now in heaven and us here on earth, the Spirit of the living God inspires a wide [...]
Three Deaths In Three Days
Good morning... The sun set on three lives in three days in my own personal corner of the world. Friday, the middle school daughter of a middle school teacher at our school tragically died in the crash of a small engine plane. Saturday, a lifelong friend who was in our wedding finished his grueling battle with ALS. Sunday, I got word that a friend who came to class in our living room lost [...]
Don’t Be In A Hurry
Good morning... Our soul stirs, soothes, speaks, as we walk quietly into the woods, sit patiently at the base of a tree, and fade into our surroundings like Parker Palmer recommends in A Hidden Wholeness. "You will likely be surprised at what your soul wants to say to God," concludes Ruth Haley Barton. As we unpack authentic intimacy as a class in our home, we notice the growth of each unique soul. In [...]
Solitude Is Creating Space
Good morning... We discussed chapter two in our book for the semester, Sacred Rhythms: Arranging Our Lives for Spiritual Transformation by Ruth Haley Barton. Solitude. Creating Space for God. For me, this felt like an inviting chapter title. As always, we began our prayer time with several moments of silence to listen more keenly to the birds, our breath, the breeze. Then I broke our silence with this opening quote from the chapter. [...]
When My World Is Shaking
Good morning... "I need to change my attitude," she admitted by email. "I realized my heart has to change first." Then she shared with me a quirky song. Pared down. Honest. Blemishes and all. I am not quite sure why I love this low budget music video, but somehow it touches my heart. Escort me into your truth; take me by the hand and teach me. For you are the God of my [...]
Reshaped By The Storm
Good morning... I listened and learned from my friend as we talked by phone on her way to work, my friend who has no umbrella in this hurricane season of her life. Then I drove twelve minutes downtown to PAWkids, a non-profit agency supporting kids and their families in the most poverty-stricken portion of our city. After our weekly time of therapeutic training, I stayed after to pray in the space set aside [...]
No Umbrella In A Hurricane
Good morning... A friend who is juggling a ton of extreme stressors called me on her way to work. "People who do not understand keep asking, 'Are you taking care of yourself?'" she explained. "Stopping to take care of myself amid all of this craziness would be like holding up an umbrella in a hurricane. Hard, driving rains are coming in sideways, swirling madly, drenching from all directions. Putting up an umbrella would [...]
An Invitation From Steve
Good morning... My husband Steve is a multi-faceted guy. Husband and father. Son and brother. High school teacher, chaplain, and wrestling coach. Good friend, loyal listener, and honest communicator. But one thing you may not know about Steve is this: he loves leading groups on trips to Israel. Every other year, Steve shepherds Lovett students in footprints left by Jesus. The opposite year he leads life-giving adventure with adults from our community. One [...]
Enjoy Our Livestream Retreat
Good morning... After our sacred celebration of Betty Skinner's life, I moved to a rustic rental with Kitty Crenshaw and Dr. Cathy Snapp, authors of The Hidden Life Awakened. Our goal was to map out the rhythm of our "Awake To Wholeness Women's Retreat" being hosted at Peachtree Road United Methodist Church on November 6th. Curled up beneath a shaggy orange blanket, which matched the candle burning beside my shorthaired angel, I felt [...]
Betty’s Sacred Ceremony
Good morning... When we arrived at the trailhead of Rock Mountain in Cashiers, N.C., we spread out one by one to experience the sacred trek. "I feel like one of Betty's bridesmaids," I thought to myself as I took my first steps. Our destination for the day was a private spot Betty Skinner called Julian's Rock. Day after day, season by season, Betty would hike to this holy haven to spend quiet hours [...]