simply me and jeans

I’ve come to value many parts of the liturgical faith traditions and recently listened to a creative, guided meditation that was absolutely beautiful. (https://www.athirstforgod.com/the-emmanuel-promise/ chapter 1 Jesus Blessing the Children) As I listened to the story, I had multiple emotions and thoughts that surprised me. Surprise at how often I’ve felt vulnerable in my life. […]

“About three in the afternoon Jesus cried out with a loud voice, ‘Elí, Elí, lemá sabachtháni ?’ that is, ‘My God, my God, why have you abandoned me ?’” Matthew 27:46 I’ve been rereading the gospel accounts of Holy Week and keep coming back to these words. For most of my life I’ve heard pastors and theologians argue the idea of whether […]

Today someone asked me to say a few words about the importance of silence in the life of a believer. Funny thing – my brain went silent.  All I could think to say was that it’s hard for me AND I desperately need it. If I’m honest, I don’t have any wise words or intellectual […]

Who am I? That’s been a reoccurring question lately. To try and describe myself is daunting.  Probably because one description of who I’ve been since childhood is a “people pleaser.” The thought of making a bad first impression or misrepresenting myself is a real thing.  It’s much less a thing than it used to be, but it’s […]

Aging is such a strange thing.  We observe it so clearly in our youth and hardly recognize it at all as we experience it in real time. My stiff joints, spotty memory and lined skin is shocking at times but, for all intents and purposes, my brain still functions as if I were twenty something.  I catch […]

Father, forgive my hesitant heart. Although I speak of your faithfulness and remember your love, I still falter when casting my net into the water.   Forgive this doubt that lives in the shadows of my disappointments and sorrows.  It doesn’t overtly speak but stirs up “rational” analysis and mitigation in the face of your call. Forward […]

One of the mysteries of my life is my brain. Why I crave a chocolate croissant and tea on hard days is beyond me but, I can’t argue with the comfort it brings my heart. I had it from a Parisian cafe almost everyday while Steve was in ICU. I hardly ate anything else during […]

My Daddy taught me to love gardening and I think of him every year around Valentine’s Day.  Why? A couple of reasons. One is that he always brought me the first Narcissus bloom around this time each year. As we reminisced about that, I told mom that I was sorry he didn’t bring them to […]

Someone asked me a question today. Where is Jesus when you pray? Is he next to me?  Across the room looking and listening? Nowhere to be found? On a throne next to his Father? Hanging on a cross? Within my heart? Do I even believe he really exists and hears? I realized that He’s usually […]

For as long as I can remember it’s been important for me to recognize and value the struggles of life.  To recognize that faith doesn’t mean ignoring pain and empty platitudes aren’t helpful when they make it seem like the “faithful” don’t suffer. To give voice to things that could make people feel different or […]