I got to catch up with a dear friend last week. She provided a safe space for me to pour out my heart, and then she boldly spoke truth and courage, wisdom and grace. I laughed, I cried, and I was inspired to keep going. A couple themes emerged from that conversation, and I’ve continued … Continue reading Regarding Sacrifice
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No Offense
To be completely honest, I had an entirely different topic that I’d planned to write about this week. I had it mostly laid out in a rough draft, and even an idea for a song I thought would be good to write with it. But that will have to be for another time, because I … Continue reading No Offense
Ashes
I wrote this in February, but decided not to post it (until now, with minor edits). These words carried me through a dark season, in unseen places and incredibly hard times. God can turn ashes into beauty; He can bestow beauty where the enemy left ashes. But even among the ashes, beauty can be found … Continue reading Ashes
Dear Church
Dear Church, It’s time we do better. Pastors, leaders, elders, deacons, congregants, volunteers, givers. Collectively. It’s time. Let’s. Do. Better. The church is meant to be a place of restoration, reconciliation, and redemption. It’s supposed to be a safe place. Instead, we’ve experienced retaliation and rejection. Again. I grieve for the bitter tastes of organized … Continue reading Dear Church
A Consequence of Curiosity
Curiosity killed the cat. It also eliminated the church member. I wasn’t offended or spreading gossip. I was asking questions so I could understand and try to heal. Distance, process, heal, return. That was my honest goal. Instead, my curiosity offended them. In their eyes, I was a problem that must be isolated. A liability … Continue reading A Consequence of Curiosity
Church Hurt
“Familiarity breeds contempt.” The pain is recognizable. The parallels are shocking. The red flags became clearer much quicker this time. It’s hard not to filter this experience through the previous one. There must be more to learn here. “Familiarity breeds contempt.” But maybe there’s another way forward this time. Maybe the familiarity can instead spark … Continue reading Church Hurt
Finding My Voice
It’s an odd thing: to be in a space that feels all too familiar, but you’re not the same person you were back then. You’ve grown, you’ve picked up some tools along the way, but here you are again. Same pain, similar story, different location. But this ending will be different than the last … Continue reading Finding My Voice
My Race to Run 