In a 2014 survey, the Barna Group found that three-quarters of American adults (75%) are looking for ways to live a “more meaningful life.” This simple statistic raises so many questions in my mind—the most obvious one being this: What exactly do we mean when we say that we want a “more meaningful life”? Certainly,… Read More Do You Want to Live a More Meaningful Life?
A quick Google search for “what is my calling?” yields one billion, thirty million websites for your perusal—hopefully enough information to get you pointed in the right direction. Right?! As you might imagine, the content on said websites is as varied as our understanding of the subject itself. Everyone from Forbes to Oprah to Tiny… Read More The Most Common Misconception about “Calling”
Last fall—just before Peter’s stroke—I had started a blog series on the subject of Interpersonal Communication. I haven’t forgotten about that important subject, and I plan to return to that series later this spring. But at the moment, another topic has re-captured my attention—the matter of “calling.” If you’ve ever wondered—“What am I ‘called’ to… Read More Clarify Your Calling: A New Blog Series
If you’ve spent much time at all around the Church, you probably have a bone to pick. Or two. Or ten. Yours might be a collection of smaller bones—the ill-timed word of a fellow congregant, a disagreement with the leadership over certain details, a misunderstanding that really doesn’t matter that much. Or you might be… Read More This Is Also the Church: How We Do Hesed
[photo credit: lucilight at creativeworshipsnss.blogspot.com] When we teach babies to talk, we start—of course—by naming things. We point a purposeful finger at the intended object, and we enunciate clearly and deliberately—our eyes wide, our faces expectant. “Mom-ma…Dad-dy…eyes…nose…juice.” Then, when our tiny student responds with a corresponding utterance, we clap and cheer and offer all manner… Read More Overcoming Labels, Dispelling Lies
We are the midst of transition again here—the bi-annual reordering of our lives—from our simple summer selves to the crazy school-year circus. Back and forth we swing, every fall and every spring. It’s always a shock to our system. It always comes with equal measures of irritability and joy, excitement and fear. And—I’ll be honest—I… Read More How to Navigate Change
Today was Freshmen Move-In Day at Moody. It moves me. Every. Single. Year. I first wrote this prayer in 2015. I re-pray it tonight and re-post it here in honor of the class of 2022. ———- They arrived today. With their baskets of bedding and their neat stacks of notebooks and their brand new jeans.… Read More For All the Freshmen
My anxiety always flares in August. Peter and I are both writing syllabi and course content. We are purchasing and organizing homeschool materials and activities. We are scrambling to finish house and garden projects. Then there is just the emotional anticipation of what is—for us—a HUGE transition back into our school-year lives. Last week—as I was… Read More How Do I Move from Anxiety to Peace?
It’s August, people! How did that happen? I’ve been a college professor for 20 years now, yet somehow this particular month still manages to sneak up on me. Every. Single. Summer. Our family will be cruising along, enjoying the sights and the sun. Then suddenly, as we turn the calendar page, I am once again… Read More 3 Qualities of a Successful College Student
This simple piece of advice was given to me at one of the most pivotal moments of my life. Peter and I were trying to decide whether or not to bring baby D into our home—as a Safe Family placement to start with. His case was headed for the foster courts, and perhaps adoption, but… Read More “Do What You Won’t Regret”