Author: Jen Manglos
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Cultivate Wonder
His eyes grew large in wonder and he almost gasped. He was in awe. But of what? All I could see was the wall, a window and curtains. Surely nothing gasp-worthy. I inquired of his mom: What’s caught his attention? She replied that the difference between light and darkness typically caused him to look in…
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Dating, Handshakes, and Short Hair
Yeah, it’s been one of those weeks. Where to start? Well, I’d been dating someone and that ended this week. That was hard. Really hard. Although I knew it was coming and was the one who officially ended things, it has been painful. After the phone call that ended it, I talked with my mom…
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Feasting
Our conversation shifted with the first taste of food. We quieted down, closed our eyes, and savored the tastes of lovingly prepared food. From these first bites, we knew we were in for a tasty evening. I considered each of the 6 women at the table good friends, yet they were friends from different areas…
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Swept into the Eye of the Storm
Tornadoes always fascinated me when I was a child. I mean, they scared me, but I also found the idea of them somewhat exciting. Growing up in Southern California, the unpredictability of earthquakes instilled a deep fear of when the next one would hit. Somehow, tornadoes seemed less scary. At least there was an alarm…
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A Great Story?
I’m in the midst of a great story, but in this moment it does not feel so great. This sums up my life pretty well right now. A few months ago I had a sense that changes were on their way. I felt both excited and nervous as I anticipated their arrival. May 1 ushered…
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Just Keep Swimming
Sometimes the simplest truths are the deepest ones. Tonight I’m facilitating a retreat on Journaling and I mentioned how easy it is to give up once we miss a day or two (or twelve) of journaling. In those moments, it’s incredibly easy to give up and fall into guilt and shame. In fact, that often…
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Thoughts from Q Nashville.
Another Q is finished and I am exhausted. It was a very different experience this year, yet it was exactly what it needed to be. Last year, the rhythm and content of Q felt so new and exciting. This year, the sheen had worn off a bit. That’s not to say it wasn’t a good…
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Q LA Thoughts
Hi All, I’m looking forward to posting my thoughts on Q Nashville next week when I’m back. In the meantime, I’ve re-posted my article from last year’s Q. April 19, 2003 For the last few years my friend Julie has attended this mysterious gathering called Q. Part of her attending meant her visiting fun locals,…
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Lenten Reflections: Resurrection
Resurrection John 20:11-18 (NIV): Now Mary stood outside the tomb crying. As she wept, she bent over to look into the tomb and saw two angels in white, seated where Jesus’ body had been, one at the head and the other at the foot. They asked her, “Woman, why are you crying?” “They have taken…