A new year and a new podcast episode which I’m very excited about. I have the amazing and prolific author and expat, Rachel Pieh Jones with me on my podcast Missionary Life as we talk about her new book Pillars, How My Muslim Friends Led Me Closer to Jesus, and what it means to navigate the mystery …
Expat Faith, Mystery & Culture Shock with Rachel Pieh Jones Read More »
Guys, I’m honored to have Amanda Held Opelt, author of A Hole in the World, and sister of the late Rachel Held Evans on my podcast Missionary Life today. This is my favorite episode so far! We share about the excruciating grief Amanda went through with the loss of her sister and how through the practice …
Grief, Rituals & Allowing Joy with Amanda Held Opelt Read More »
Happy Thanksgiving! As we gather around, may we set a table in the wilderness for those who are lonely, or feel disillusioned in their faith, may we host those who are different from us, who challenge our theological beliefs. May we welcome those who are struggling with grief, or trying to heal from a church …
Christianity Today Article: What is a Missionary Kid Worth? Read More »
This entire year has been a year of clenching. Body curled inward, tight. Neck stiff, shoulders closed. Like many of you, it began with a move. Transition. That cavernous word. As global nomad’s, we call many places home and movement seems to be our mantra. Whether welcome or unwanted, whether reentering after living on the field, being …
Sometimes I can forget. How long I fought for him. How much grief I endured. This morning I held my son against my chest and breathed in his blonde hair, as if trying to inhale him into my body. He’s 17 months now, he’s a toddler tottering around on beach paths and mouthing words, throwing fits …
There is still beauty in the world the seagull wing feathered in the sand molten and silvery waves in motion tousled as the son’s curls, the ocean curved around him a wrestled embrace white coral weathered by sun lying in promise The birds diving on as if they knew a secret knew …
I want so badly to do this perfectly. It’s like somewhere inside I believe if I do all the “right things” I can keep the bad things at bay. I hold tightly to this belief like a child gripping a flashlight to chase away the monsters under the bed. Almost 8 months pregnant, I plan …
I got to see my baby today. He’s eight weeks and the size of a wild strawberry, tiny as a jelly bean with little limbs. The heart is already flickering at 172. I’d never seen my baby’s heartbeat. I’d never had a happy ultrasound. On the black and white screen this rainbow baby was hanging out upside …
When you’re in the middle of deep suffering sometimes all you can do is exhale anguished prayers between sobs. Those prayers sound more like “Help” and “Please” than they do anything intelligible. All you can manage is to play worship music over yourself and let the words believe for you when you can’t utter the sounds. …
Suffering, The Uninvited Companion: A Scott Shaum Interview Read More »
It was July of 2006 in Mbale, Uganda. I was 25, single, and about to free fall down the side of a 320 ft waterfall. In the beginning abseiling sounded like a good idea, a way to prove to myself that I could get over any of my fears. But once I realized there was just a skinny, African …
We stumbled upon the circled labyrinth in the dark. We were in nowhere Gardnerville, Nevada on a road trip hoping to soothe the sting out of disappointing news. It sparked joy inside me. Remembrance of other times in Colorado I’d traced the paths that led me Home to God and myself. Stone cuts against sand. …
Unexpected: How to Hold On When God Shuts a Door Read More »
I haven’t been writing much lately. Life happened. I’d wanted to fall into summer’s sandy shores and slowed time with abandon. But mostly I got anxiety and tumult. I’m not a busyness lover, I’m a stillness lover. I always know I’m not doing well when the ink from my pen dries up. I hit a deep soul weariness …
