Category: Spiritual
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Fruit of the spirit
But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. I saw this verse from Galatians on instagram and I felt convicted in my heart. My tree is dry and bare. It has a few low fruit hanging. But it is not lush with joy, peace, forbearance, gentleness.…
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Reflecting on Church after Gmunden
I grew up in a broad community that adhered to a set of values and beliefs, and though my neighborhood was at the edge of the city, limited in many ways (economically and politically), we transcended our boundaries of space and time. Early on in my life I traveled all over the country, meeting new…
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The last day of the hike
The trails blend in my memory. We’ve had high highs and low lows. Metaphorically and literally. This morning we woke up more rested than I expected. The large shared room had double beds separated by a thin wood board. We even had a window above us that stayed open all night. This style rooms are called…
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How are you doing?
A question that most often doesn’t receive a good enough answer. We are too comfortable to get vulnerable. It’s a lot of work. It can be embarrassing. But then again, that is the point. We are all carrying different weights. We are all hurt. We have different but very personal longings. Rest. True rest. Community.…
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Three women in their thirties discussing burnout
It is not an exhaustive presentation. We all shared from what we learned as we traveled through the valley of burnout, camping there for a while, reaching the valley from different directions. Some having started the climb up a while ago. Awareness of where we are is a great starting point. And you don’t have…
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Integrity in the story of Joseph
At ROM, Marko Stupar shared about Integrity in the context of the story of Joseph. He posed a few questions that we had to sit with. Two are still stuck in my mind. Who are you when nobody is looking? Who are you when you have power? Indeed, the question of integrity applies to all…
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Inclusion
I think power lies within all of us. A sense of empowerment to stand up straight, look people in the eyes, smile, act. Kids hear everything we say, even when we whisper it, especially when we whisper it. Our micro expressions, our judgement or our openness towards others. Ivy gets along brilliantly with many of…
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Stand up and walk
I do not know how to mingle with every important cool person, though my social life is full. It’s too much. What happened to my incognito 🥸 structured simpler life? I am invited here and there and I haven’t learned to say no. For as strong and independent I like to think of myself as, my inability…
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Uninvited
The clicks of youth, the exclusion and the standards by which friendships are pursued, it is an age old drama and yet like nothing I’ve seen before. Especially when it comes to a randomized mixed group, like school or neighborhood or church, where we ought to learn to embrace those who are not like us,…
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Prayer
If I were to create a chart, a graph of my emotional stability and my prayer life, I think I would see some direct correlation. I’m not that nerdy though. Alas, the last few months, I have coasted, trying to regain my balance and did not dig deep into introspection and prayer. I talk to…
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Generosity
There are quotes that pop into my head, when it comes to generosity. “Give to the one who asks of you” But in the same breath I hear: Be wise and use your discernment. Be intentional and set clear boundaries. Too easily we, with our human nature, go from gratitude to expectation and then to…
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The familiar adoption world
“You love adoption, right mommy?” Asks ivy holding a bunch of pages she has drawn on. “I drew a book about adoption. Will you help me staple the pages?” She proceeds to walk me through the five beautiful drawings. She is 6 years old and she will be an architect. She practices every day. She…