Five and a half weeks ago I was supposed to be in the Pacific Northwest for two Practicing events in Portland and Washington. I was so excited because not only would I get to process some of the content in Practicing: Changing Yourself to Change the World with people in real life workshop-style (my favorite […]
Read More
“Our brokenness is always lived and experienced as highly personal, intimate, and unique. I am deeply convinced that each human being suffers in a way no other human being suffers.” ~ Henri Nouwen Today is Holy Saturday. The day between Good Friday and Easter Sunday and the one that gets skipped over the most. It’s […]
Read More
If we were together in real life right now the first thing I’d want to do is give you a hug. In less than a week, hugs have become a sparse commodity as we’ve entered into what feels like an alternate reality–but is very, very real. 4 ½ months into grieving the loss of our Jared, […]
Read More
This post was swirling around in my head last fall and on the day that my son died I had just put the finishing touches on it and was getting ready to hit “publish.” Then my doorbell rang and the police came to share the worst possible news a parent can ever receive, and we’re […]
Read More
When you cry every single day for 100 days, it’s definitely hard on the soul, especially when you look toward the next 100 days and realize that it’s just the way life is going to be now. We’re learning how to live with it. We are getting more used to going from crying to laughing […]
Read More
“When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to meSpeaking words of wisdom, let it beAnd in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of meSpeaking words of wisdom, let it be. Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it beWhisper words of wisdom, let it […]
Read More
It’s been 21 days since the police showed up at my door to tell me our 5th child and twin brother, Jared, died in his dorm room as a college sophomore exactly two weeks short of his 20th birthday. 21 days without his bright light, his “I love you, Mom” texts, his wild and beautiful life on […]
Read More
Another friend of mine is dying. In the past 4 months I’ve gone to 4 memorial services, 3 for long-time friends and one that we officiated for person who was unhoused in our local community. The range on ages was 37 to 58, with three sudden deaths and one short and valiant battle with cancer. […]
Read More
Today is July 4th, celebrated as Independence Day in the United States, a symbol of our independent spirit, breaking free from the British empire, and that start of our democracy and life as a nation. “Happy 4th” is not rolling off many of our lips very easily this year (or maybe ever). Kids in cages. Immigration round-ups. […]
Read More
“The work…is to carry grief in one hand and gratitude in the other, and to be stretched large by them.” ~ Frances Weller* All who knew, read, or heard Rachel Held Evans are reeling right now–stunned, shell-shocked, speechless, raw, overwhelmed, grieving. It’s a tragic loss, and the ripples of her life will spill out for generations […]
Read More