Some of my earliest Christmas memories include romping through our snowy backwoods to chop down the perfect tree. Although it was usually a lanky one, we decorated it with my parents’ childhood ornaments and my keepsake Barbie collectibles. (Oh, what a sight!) On Christmas Eve I strained my ear towards the bedroom door, hoping to…
The unseasonably warm temperatures this weekend fooled me into believing Advent was long off. My kitchen calendar tells me this is not so. The sun shines warmly over our Virginian apartment while the autumn leaves bake to a stale brown underneath the trees. The leaves, and the increasing darkness, remind me we’ll be lighting four…
Many years ago I sat in a small seaside office as a domestic violence survivor advocate. My work focused on safety planning, connecting folks with community resources, and facilitating support groups. I loved it. Many days were emotionally difficult, but it informed so much of my life and faith since then, including my approach to…
On Thursday we observed Michaelmas through a casual dessert night with friends. They brought delicious homemade wassail and we pulled out the ice cream to top a homemade blackberry crisp. Everything was *chef’s kiss* tasty. You might remember my plan to make maple-themed treats. Well, that took a turn when I learned about the feast…
Books and resources abound on the practice of writing a rule (or rhythm) of life, and yet many well known resources are written with Christian jargon. While they can certainly be insightful, their religious tone can be a distraction, especially to survivors of religious trauma and those who have shifted significantly in their faith expression….
What comes to mind when you hear the phrase quiet time? If you grew up in church, this common phrase was likely a reference to a particular hour, give or take, of each day to read the Bible, journal, and pray. It apparently worked best in the morning, if you could manage the early hour….