There is nothing I dread more than calling my health insurance. Years of medical bills which lead to much time and energy invested in clarifying, disputing and preauthorizations took its toll. In fact, I my husband and I joke that my decision to leave my career to stay at home was to resolve insurance snafus. […]
five minute friday
The Sacred Way Christmas Cards Speak to Us
They tell stories. Every December, the stream of Christmas photo cards of friends and family trickle into my mailbox. In this age of digital communication, the paper photos become more than traditional comforts. They provide a liturgical lens through which I see God working. The photos remind me what’s been going on behind the scenes. […]
Why I Embrace the Thrill of Hope in a Year That Didn’t Conclude as Expected
Sometimes the reminder of why we celebrate Christmas looks like nothing expected. In fact, it may feel like the sting of sin in the midst of dazzling decorations. And that’s when we sit in the tension of living in a place that is aching toward reconciliation and restoration. Weary souls are still seeking their soul’s […]
How Adoring Jesus Goes Beyond the Lyrics of a Christmas Carol
“O Come let us adore Him O come let us adore Him O come let us adore him O come let us adore him Christ the Lord.” The chorus evokes warm nostalgic memories and ecclesiastic connection to Christmas’s past as the words pour from our lips. There is reason for that: for the church and […]
Why I Am Grateful for Unexpected Blessings
Thanksgiving brought about unexpected changes to our “traditional” gathering. I use that term loosely because my family has never celebrated holidays in a specific manner from year to year. Chalk it up to a history of afflictions, work schedules, family locations, and a general recognition that “new” can be a blessing, we recognized the opportunity […]
Why “Cancel” Can Yield to “New”
Disruption to plans is not always a welcomed guest. We find comfort in familiar places. Routines provide opportunities to remember our story: individual and collective. They help inform identity as we move about this side of Heaven. However, 2020 has thrust us toward recognizing that routines and expectations may change. What then? Several years ago, […]