Taking a Moment
I love taking a moment. Taking a moment means you sit by yourself in some quiet spot. You take a deep breath. You sip some cool water. You let your mind wander for a few minutes. You pray. You close your eyes and cast your cares on the Lord. In the moment–whether you can afford […]
“Daily life is always extraordinary when rendered precisely.” –Bonnie Friedman
I love teaching students to observe their ordinary world and make meaning from it. Our final class essay involves noticing something that creates mystery, wonder, awe, even worship, in our regular routines. It’s a way to stop and think, to puzzle over something, to wonder. I’ve read essays about coats, hair, purses, and jellyfish. I’ve […]
A Calm Soul
This morning I read the words of John Wesley: “Let me do nothing today without calmness of soul.” I pray for calmness of soul. I think of myself in the peaceful fortress of God’s care. I think of being led beside still waters. It’s calm in here.
5 Worship Songs for Rejoicing That We’re Seated with Christ
Over the past few days, readers of Seated with Christ have introduced me to beautiful songs that help us inhabit the reality of our being seated with Christ (Ephesians 2:6). I thought I’d include them here for you: “Carried to the Table” by Leeland. The stunning lyrics include these lines: Summoned by the KingInto the […]
Something’s Wrong? Keep Moving.
My worst fears come upon me as I travel down the harrowing stretch of mountain road on the way home from a speaking event. The sky will darken soon. The cold rain pelts down. The cars travel too fast all around me. I glance down to check my speed. I notice it then: a warning […]
Why It’s Good You’re Not Everything
Well, I’m learning to be gentle with myself–profoundly gentle–especially in the face of criticism or when disappointing others. A woman I just met told me that what she’s most learning in parenting is that “she’s not everything” (and she shouldn’t be everything) to her children. We talk about how her not being everything means that […]
A Thankful Heart
Today, I rejoice because I feel like God’s treasured possession. I know I am, but I don’t always feel like I am (and I certainly don’t wake up feeling treasured by God all the time). But today, I did. I woke up fully rested–a miracle at my age. Thank you, Lord. Thank you! Secondly, I […]
The Power of Compliments
I can read a room. I can read the mood of a room, in particular the students within a room, within the first few moments of their arrival to class. And this morning, our collective mood needed some lifting. But then? Compliments. The compliments began. “I really like your new haircut, Dr. H. It’s a […]
Let It Mean Everything
On the chilly walk, I stoop down to observe the persistent and powerful crocus. Two things: the purple astonishes me every spring, and the fact that they emerge through snow and freezing temperatures challenges my whining over my circumstances. The crocus sings. The crocus pushes up through snow, piles of decaying leaves, and empty landscapes […]
A New Month, A Fresh Start
I love a fresh, new month. Let’s make it wonderful! Think about setting goals, committing ourselves to an attitude of thankfulness and rejoicing, and increasing our faith to trust God in ever-expanding ways. What goals shall we set? What might we thank God for right now? What areas of our life require more and more […]