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 →
The Universe Doesn’t Love You (And Why That’s Good News)
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 →
Incubator for the Soul
(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 →
(Don’t) Brace Yourself
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 →
Life in the Desert
"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 →
A Different Kind of Meal Prep
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 →
Pitching a Fit with God
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 →
Recalculating
Back in my high school days, I wasn't known for having the keenest sense of direction. (Fine. I'm still not known for having the keenest sense of direction.) Without a navigational system constantly chirping instructions at me, I'd be more lost than a goose in a snowstorm. But when my GPS is whirring away, I... Continue Reading →
Saul’s Lament, John’s Delight
(This post was originally published on the Baptist Convention of New England's blog on July 13, 2019. You can find it here.) It's startling how quickly anointing can become annoyance in ministry life. The king groaned and closed his window to shut out the jubilant roars. Responsibility weighed heavy on his shoulders, and now heaps... Continue Reading →
It Is Well
The story of Horatio Spafford reads much like that of Job in the Bible, compounding calamity upon calamity at what seems to the average onlooker a bizarre rate. A crushed career. His city ablaze. Financial ruin. Four daughters drowned at sea. A son—his namesake—taken by scarlet fever. And from the depths of this man on... Continue Reading →