Category: Faith & Formation
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Becoming a Little Friend of Jesus
This morning I was listening to “On Being” a radio program/podcast on human flourishing. A couple of years ago I caught a bit of the episode with Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche communities. I finally downloaded the podcast of this particular episode (which has been on my mental to do list ever since I…
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Shared Suffering and Comfort
Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies and God of all comfort, who comforts us in all our affliction, so that we may be able to comfort those who are in any affliction, with the comfort with which we ourselves are comforted by God. For as we…
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Pilgrim
I love to travel. I caught the “bug” in college and have never quite been the same since. I notice an antsy-ness whenever I experience extended absences of travel and exploration. And of course, every trip makes me yearn for another. I have learned how to take this love of travel into my own surroundings,…
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He Takes No Pleasure
When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don’t ask questions: Wait for hope to appear. Don’t run from trouble. Take it full-face. The “worst” is never the worst. 31-33 Why? Because the Master won’t ever walk out and fail to return. If he works severely,…
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Strange Dances of Grace
Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on…
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I Lift My Eyes Up
I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth. – Psalm 121:1-2 (NIV) My daily commute takes me through some winding roads in the hills. I must admit that the thought of fearing a hill or…
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Loss and Gain
This year has been one full of funerals. I’m up to four so far and soon will hit number five. I don’t mean to be crass and spout off my funeral attendance like baseball stats, but I’ve never lost so many people I’ve known in such a short amount of time. My most recent loss…
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Jesus: Friend in Suffering and Joy
So often I have found comfort in reflecting on Jesus’ journey to the cross. He who has been abandoned, rejected, and abused understands our suffering, because he himself has suffered. He is not removed from the human experience, but instead embraced his humanity fully. I’ve become increasingly grateful for the season of Lent as it presents…
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Journey into 2015
Last weekend I led a group of small group leaders through a time of reflecting on 2014 and looking ahead to 2015. I’m posting it here as a resource for you as you begin this new year. The exercise takes about an hour and a half. You will need a journal, a separate piece of…
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Advent: A Thrill of Hope
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices. A chill ran through my body as I sang this line from a long-loved song. In this season, which has been marked by heaviness, my heart captured a glimpse of the hope Jesus brings. Last week I attended a Christmas service at my friend’s church. It was…