The Courage to Show Up
I went to the bank to wire the next three months of rent to my landlord, as I had done successfully several times before. When I was finished, I sent a text to let him know to look for it in his account. Unlike the other times, he couldn’t see it immediately. He then told […]
Cross Cultural Comic Relief
I moved to Zimbabwe as a single woman at the age of 26, on accident. Yup, you read that right, accident. As in unintentionally. I came for two weeks, came back for three months, then I returned leading a team of volunteers for three weeks with an option to stay on for a year. Ten […]
Authentic Sharing vs. Whining
I am part of a small group of international coach trainers who affectionately, tongue-in-cheek, call ourselves the Super Heroes of the World. Our purpose is pursuing areas where God is pressing in and to respond by leaning into those places with a deep trust in our Father. We desire to live and lead from the […]
Amazing Race Moments
Back in the day before we had kids, or smart phones or 3G or travel apps, we decided to fly from our city in China to Shanghai on a whim. We had our Lonely Planet guidebook and a map. That was it. The tickets were purchased from a single-window travel agency on a street corner. […]
When You Hate Where You Live
You don’t want to admit it. You don’t even know if you can allow yourself to say it. But you hate where you live. It feels like a dirty word –“hate.” Certainly nothing a good Christian is allowed to feel about the place God has her. You feel stuck. You want something else. You don’t […]
Who Am I Here?
In every new environment I step into, I find myself asking: Who am I here? And what do I have to offer? Will my authentic self be affirmed or rejected in this place? My first three years in China as a young mom stretched me out of my comfort zone. Large groups of English students […]
Being Someone Else Is Better Than Being Me
What’s that cheesy high school poster say, “When will you realize everybody else is already taken, be yourself“? Forgive my paraphrase, but I know it’s something along those lines. I haven’t met a woman yet who doesn’t struggle with being herself at times. The reason is a two parter: one, we think being someone else […]
Remember This When You’re Tired of Being Real
It’s the hundredth cup of tea in the hundredth kitchen with the hundredth new friend who wants to know all about me. I press my hands hard into the ceramic mug and feel the heat radiate to my arms. I mentally scan my life’s timeline for where to start. Do I start with my shot […]
Listen in and Let’s Talk
If you followed #VAeditorsretreat on Instagram, then you know that the four of us Velvet Ashes editors had an amazing time together last weekend. We went into the weekend feeling like it was an extravagant gift for us to be together. And it was. But we came to realize that this kind of in-person time and planning is […]
Give Thanks HERE? Now?
From the wellspring of gratitude all virtues flow. This quote ruined me. Right smack in the middle of a pity party. Lonely on a team of amazing people. Trying to figure out how to feed my kiddos with the equivalent of a Bunsen burner and Easy-Bake oven. Tired of coal dust and roof rats. Wishing […]