Last Sunday, Pope Francis called the Catholic church together to pray and fast on behalf on Syria this Saturday, September 7. I may not be a baptized Catholic, but I plan to join in on praying with my Catholic brothers and sisters. I’ve been praying for this dear country the last few months and it […]
Some days I am confronted by the fact that there is not an easy answer. Not surprisingly, this is not welcome news to me. Or to anyone. The reality is though, I live in a world that is overflowing with situations that cannot be explained with an easy answer. My post the other day dealt […]
In the Bible, we’re given glimpses of the grieving rituals in Israel. At times, this included hiring a professional mourner. Yes, that is a person hired to cry, wail, and beat their breast when a person dies (but the real question is, does it have good medical benefits?). Again, this is a culture that values […]
I have the joy of living with two single women. Some of my favorite moments with them are when we commiserate about singleness and the woes of dating. The other night one of my roomies shared a profile she’d come across on a dating site. As she read this man’s profile it quickly became clear […]
Last Thursday I had my monthly meeting with my spiritual director. I shared with her about the surprising experience of my birthday and how refreshing it was in light of this challenging year. As we continued to explore this past year the word that came to mind for me was “resignation.” So much of this […]
Last April I attended Q LA, a gathering to discuss ideas for the common good. The event is structured similarly to TED, where each presentation is under 20 minutes. At Q, presenters speak for 18, 9 or 3 minutes. One of the talks I heard came from Jessica Rey on modesty. This past week, I’ve seen […]
Yesterday was my birthday and it was not a day I was initially looking forward to. About a month ago, a couple of friends had asked me about my birthday plans and I almost burst into tears. This year has been continually changing, growing, moving, isolating, and, confusing. Much in my life has changed and […]
I posted this blog a couple of years ago, but still resonate with the feelings I expressed at that point. Hope you survive this Monday – I know I woke up desiring a bit more sleep. Jen ………. I had the privilege of skyping with a dear friend today (so grateful for technology […]
About a year and a half ago I was introduced to the poetry of Madeline L’engle. Now, I don’t mean to be overly dramatic and to demean this phrase, but it changed my life. I was with two friends and we sat down in a coffee shop, taking turns reading poems from L’engle’s “The Ordering […]
Here’s the third in my Summer Wedding Series. You started by adjusting yourexpectations. Then you learned some evasive tactics for those awful questions and comments pertaining to your singleness. Now, onto the dreaded bouquet toss… I am eternally grateful for Beyonce’s song “Single Ladies.” No, it hasn’t inspired me in life or encouraged me in […]
I have been frustrated by life lately. It’s a long story, but I am walking through life transitions, while also journeying into some pain from my past. This last weekend was particularly hard for me. I felt angry, and sad, and lonely, and unseen (Just what you want to accompany your holiday weekend). And then […]
Today I’m starting a series on how to prepare for wedding season. Not as a bride, groom or family member, but as a single person. Weddings can be tricky and confusing for those who are single and these are a few tips I discovered along the way. For the next few Mondays I will post […]