When we deny our pain, losses, and feelings year after year, we become less and less human. We transform slowly into empty shells with smiley faces painted on them. Peter Scazzero Dear Tired Heart, Can we talk? You put up a brave front, but the weight you carry is too much for anyone to handle... Continue Reading →
(This post was originally published on the Baptist Convention of New England’s blog on May 9, 2022. You can find it here.) Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you... Continue Reading →
Imagine something with me for a minute. Let's say you're a mortician. Yup, you work with corpses. The only human beings you encounter from 9 to 5 have no pulse. And then let's say that their being dead starts to annoy you. It's little things at first—the pasty skin, the unmistakable odor, the limp limbs... Continue Reading →
There’s this great scene at the end of Disney’s 1967 hit, The Jungle Book. Mowgli has spent the entire movie fighting to avoid the “man village.” He’s run away from anyone intent on reuniting him with his own kind. Despite his friends’ best attempts to save that scrawny little neck of his from the threat... Continue Reading →
In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth. (Genesis 1:1) Ah, Pinterest. The adorable outfits, brilliant party ideas, decadent recipes: they all serve as creative inspiration for when I'm in a rut. Who knows how many hours (days?) I've spent beholding as much beauty there as my eyes could take in, gathering bits... Continue Reading →
(This post was originally published on the Baptist Convention of New England’s blog on April 3, 2020. You can find it here.) "To every person there comes in their lifetime that special moment when you are figuratively tapped on the shoulder and offered the chance to do a very special thing, unique to you and your... Continue Reading →
Whether someone is being threatened by a tsunami wave on the deck of a ship, facing a blizzard in a tiny mountain cottage, or waiting in a doctor's office to hear the results of a big test, the preparation message is the same: Brace yourself. A steeling of the spine, a gritting of teeth, and... Continue Reading →
"My life is so dry right now. I just feel like I'm wandering around in the desert." These words could have been uttered by Abraham. Isaac. Jacob. Joseph. Moses. The nation of Israel. Elijah. Nehemiah. John the Baptist. Jesus. Paul. And maybe you. Friend, the path into (and out of) the desert is well-traveled—God seems... Continue Reading →
Step right up, ladies and gents! Today only, we're showing you how to make a month's worth of freezer-friendly dinners in only two hours! Meal prep is a fairly recent phenomenon consisting of planning, purchasing, cooking, and assembling large amounts of grub at once so that meals throughout the week lose the meltdown quotient for... Continue Reading →
King David was a drama queen. You've probably not been taught so in Sunday school, but it's true. This giant of the faith didn't seem to worry much about controlling his emotions with God. (Does anybody else break out in soul hives at that thought?) He bawled and screamed and begged and stomped and pointed... Continue Reading →
The Dwelling Place 