About four years ago, before any of us had been encouraged to practice social distancing because of the coronavirus pandemic, I moved to the Northwoods of Wisconsin. My family and friends worried I’d be lonely, but I embraced the peace and quiet and found myself feeling very happy among the trees and lakes. It didn’tContinue reading “Has social distancing put us in a double pandemic?”
Tag Archives: moving
Bring on the boredom: the paradox of the path
Years ago, at a family gathering with cousins and aunts and uncles rubbing shoulders and shaking hands, I uttered words for which I was shamed and even scolded. We were in the hills of Iowa at my uncle’s pig farm. He was the eldest uncle. His children were at least a decade older than me,Continue reading “Bring on the boredom: the paradox of the path”
In a time for falling
Lately, falling has been on my mind. The season for this is approaching, as leaf after leaf will soon let go and make its journey downwards, trusting the winds to take them where they need to go. I have been thinking about the sensation of falling, but not for the reasons you might expect. ItContinue reading “In a time for falling”
Challenged to trust in Mystery
Yesterday I finished packing up my classroom. A somber weight pressed upon my shoulders as I cleaned out my desk, dusted shelves and put books and picture frames in boxes. In the silence I prayed in gratitude for the room that has held so much life and energy for me during the past four years.Continue reading “Challenged to trust in Mystery”
The process of lightening up my living
A few weeks ago, my whole life flashed before my eyes. Well, maybe it didn’t actually flash. But, I really did feel I re-lived my 33 years of living in five days. In those five days, I looked at all of my stuff and made a choice about whether to keep each item (not the goal), throw itContinue reading “The process of lightening up my living”
growing through the cracks
I am thinking about cracks a lot lately. Images of cracks keep flashing through me while I minister and live in community and try to live the Gospel and do this messy Jesus business. I see cracks in the sidewalks caused by the subtle shifting of the ground we know. God is up to some amazingContinue reading “growing through the cracks”
oh hey, summer! well hello, stranger!
The last day of teaching was well over a week ago and since then I have been on the move. My itinerant summer has begun. Many people have asked me what I am up to this summer. The truth is that my life is just as packed and full as it normally is. I loveContinue reading “oh hey, summer! well hello, stranger!”