Fall carries some grief with her when she comes.That surprises me every year. Like an accidental tradition, I become a bit melancholic when I realize that the glorious window of leaves ablaze and brisk-not-cold temperatures is closing. And similar to other seasonal transitions, I tend to look back and wonder whether we chose wisely and maximized our opportunities.Was [...]
We're keeping it brief this month. Before sending this letter, I looked over your names and thought about your current seasons of life. Some of you are planning for or adjusting to marriages and babies and new degree programs and other huge changes. Some of you are doing the same deal you've been doing for a while. Some [...]
Luke 18:35-41As Jesus approached Jericho, a blind man was sitting by the roadside begging. When he heard the crowd going by, he asked what was happening. They told him, “Jesus of Nazareth is passing by.”He called out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”Those who led the way rebuked him and told him to be quiet, but he shouted [...]
After a few days of concentrated time at home–After I confessed my own flippancy from the prior weeks–After I began to accept that my paid work would be completed (or not) around Amelia's day–After I realized that grocery runs needed to be strategic– I noticed the conflict. – It feels strange to taste and see the apparent goodness of [...]
The Christmas tree still stands in the living room corner because parting with the lights is an annual struggle. But I completed a simple year-end reflection, welcomed the new year by going to bed at 10pm, and have since been thinking about goals and resets and not confusing fresh vision with what I perceive to be the ideal version [...]
I watched my 2.5-year-old niece try to poke the straw into the juice pouch, in equal parts clumsiness and determination. Despite multiple asks on my end - "Nora, can I help you with that?" - her eyes stayed fixed on that stubborn yellow straw held tight between her little fist, prodding, slipping, bending. This is [...]
This Lent, I'm following along with She Reads Truth's study of Isaiah. The opening paragraph of commentary reads: "During Lent, Christians traditionally meditate on Scriptures that point us to the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ. When we see our desperate need for salvation through the lens of a cross and an empty tomb, [...]
Last week, I felt my body start to give way. Regular tasks at work took ten times longer than usual. Evenings that typically held loads of laundry and bread-baking were exchanged for early bedtimes due to zero energy. I had no focus to read. The sore throat crept in mid-week, crumminess resigning me to the couch. But [...]
"Start where you're at, be all the way where you are. Sink into where God has you...accept the lessons and the gifts." These warm words came from a blogger in my Instagram feed yesterday morning. And on that particular Monday - with a negative wind chill and a dog as my all-day company - those words [...]
I haven't been here in a little while. I could tell you that school has me zapped. Or that we tend to be busy 4+ evenings a week and I haven't had the time to sit down and write. Those things are true, only to an extent. But there's been an overarching theme of my [...]
Mallory R. Manning 