Between “back to school” and “holiday hectic”–a reprieve
My connecting flight (which I make by only 10 minutes) takes me over the Grand Canyon at sunset. I’m relieved to be on the plane, blown away by the beauty, and suddenly sad for the [...]
The surprising thing about Lent
How are you doing? Really? Yosemite National Park. (Photo by Melanie Kent) How’s the journey so far, Lenten pilgrim? Is Lent, and the practices you've chosen in this season, clearing the cobwebs? Spring [...]
Letting courage drive the bus: saying yes to the great adventure of vocation
“Before you tell your life what you intend to do with it, listen for what it intends to do with you. Before you tell your life what truths and values you have decided to live [...]
What are you passionate about?
What are you passionate about? Have you ever had a conversation, been asked a question, and later, after the conversation was over, thought, “I should have said…I should have asked…” This happens to me. All. [...]
Five simple strategies for slowing down
We live hurried lives. We feel, as today's reading in Deeply Loved describes, restless and unsettled. Imagine someone telling you: "You are like a jar of river water all shaken up. What you need is [...]
Solitude (in community)
One of our readings this week was titled "Alone." We considered the call to come away with Christ, to spend time in his presence without distractions, without others. The call to solitude is a call [...]
What does “working smarter” really look like?
True confession: my ability to create a decent PowerPoint presentation is mediocre at best. And yet, I just (finally) emailed my PowerPoint to the tech guy for the West Coast Christian Writers Conference, where I [...]
Self-care Friday
In an act of defiance against the culture, I purchased absolutely nothing today. I spent most of the day on the couch, although I did do some writing work from said couch. I read, took [...]
Free e-book copy of Breathe
Many of you remember my 2005 book Breathe. I know some of you continue to use it as a resource for small group discussions or your moms' ministries, or just to remind yourself to slow [...]
On my list this year: contentment
The onslaught is building, slowly but surely. You're already seeing and hearing ads for the holiday shopping season, reminding you that even though Thanksgiving is more than two weeks away, it's time to think about [...]