Having just extolled the benefits of being mentored, you’d think I would consider anything shy of one-on-one, regular, intentional, growth-centered discipleship a sham. But, as is often the case, we tend to cut ourselves more slack than we do others. Perhaps I need to be the mentor I wish to see in the world. Or … Continue reading Spot, Sprinkler, Stealth: On Discipling Others

“WHO WANTS A MENTOR FOR THE NEW YEAR” read the title of a post on a museum blogger’s website that I followed. Intrigued that someone would just put themselves out there to mentor someone coming up in the field, I clicked on the link. Linda had recognized the value of someone further along in their … Continue reading Who Wants a Mentor?

At my age, I'd already grown used to not having a child. Never would I have guessed that an invitation I extended one day to a man of God to have dinner with my husband and me would change that. My husband and I had moved on. We had been sad of course, but focused … Continue reading The Shunammite Woman (2 Kings 4 & 8)

Probably no one is more surprised about my recent spike in physical activity than I am or maybe perhaps my trainer since he was privy to my falling out on the floor every time he asked me to lift a weight in our early days training together. It all started with an email. Last September, … Continue reading Fit, Fitter, Fittest: Fence-sitter No More

I never ran. The PE department learned the hard way that running wasn’t for me. I would, without fail, end up in the nurse’s office laid out taking my inhaler, sitting on the floor with my head between my knees drinking coke, or wheezing into my school nebulizer (as distinct from the one I had … Continue reading The Longest Mile

  In many ways, the past year and a half has felt like being an expat in a developing country. Friends and families’ lives move on at a regular pace—vacations, marriages, pregnancies, new jobs, new relationships—while yours seems to stand still by comparison. You’re being changed by the new and oftentimes uncomfortable realities of living … Continue reading Poor in Spirit in the Land of Plenty

I had a whole city block wondering who died as I wailed uncontrollably unable to find any privacy. After failing to stem my tears at my desk this afternoon, I ran outside to call my mom. At first when she asked what was wrong I offered only an earful of sobs, sniffs, and barely-caught breaths. … Continue reading He Can Also Give Us Bread

  You know the story. High wall. Fragile man. Great fall. Irreparable damage. There were many moments where it felt like that was my year. Shortly after turning 33, someone told me it was my Jesus year. Listen, I don’t know what that means but if it means growing acquainted with the cross, not having … Continue reading 34 Eve: My Humpty Dumpty Year in Review

A few weeks back, I was describing to a friend this new class I've been taking and when I reached the end she asked who was teaching it. I said I am. "Well, where'd you get the syllabus?" she asked. I made it. She was surprised and asked if I'd ever considered becoming a teacher … Continue reading My Christian Nonfiction Writing “Class”

Upon receiving my first debit card 16 years ago when I started college, I promptly began to spend and spend big. With movie scenes depicting cards being declined at fancy restaurants in the back of my mind, I thought that once its balance reached zero, my card would stop letting me make purchases. I soon … Continue reading Pride, Prejudice, Pressure and Pain: Becoming a Skeptical Receiver