Puttin’ On Size
There’s an expression that they say here sometimes that I honestly loathe when on the receiving end. People tell me that it’s meant to be a compliment – that it means you are looking good and that, as a result, you must be living good. And maybe to some, especially to those who grew up […]
Our Capacity and His
As I laid on the wooden ‘cot’ and looked at the wall that was covered in spit, all I could hear was the technician say “disfunction … disfunction … disfunction …” I knew something was desperately wrong, but I had no idea what or why. 20 years before that fateful day, I had open heart […]
Embodied
“Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit. Who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore, honor God with your body.” 1 Corinthians 6:19-20 Honor God with my body? A temple of the Holy Spirit? […]
Location ≠ Identity
“We need to operate, it’s urgent. You’ll be taken to theatre today.” At 29, I was young, enthusiastic and about to start my third year in Rwanda. Instead, after a long stream of stomach pain, I was diagnosed with an ovarian cyst. I was admitted to hospital, hoping to manage with medication, but unfortunately the […]
This Month’s Theme: Body
Do you not know that you are a temple of God and that the Spirit of God dwells in you? 1 Corinthians 3:16 We live and move and breath in these bodies of ours. They carry the stories and scars of our cross-cultural adventures, allowing us to do things we might have never imagined. These […]
When the Body Speaks
In therapy a few months ago, while I was re-telling a traumatic story, my therapist asked me if I had feeling in my feet. Taking a deep breath, I took stock of how I was feeling and my body, indeed, felt numb. For the next few minutes she had me rub my legs and my […]
How the Rapids Showed Me Beauty
Life can be like a journey down a winding river. Rivers can be calm and smooth, but usually along the way rapids appear. Life is like that. Sometimes the rapids are exciting and fun, like moving overseas. Other times they are downright frightening, like an unwanted diagnosis. During those rapids I find myself wanting and […]
What is Your Body Saying to You?
Taking care of your body did not make the list of topics that I remember in pre-field preparations. The charge to “eat what is set before you” had made it into my head as important cross-culturally and sacrifice was the go-to response, but another truth seemed to be in tension with these: “Worship the Lord […]
Body Care, Soul Care: Ideas from the Instagram Team
It can be challenging to nourish our bodies while serving cross-culturally. There might be new foods that require an adjustment, new ways of shopping for groceries, and resources that are no longer available. As we start off our discussion about our bodies this week, we asked our Instagram team to share their ideas, thoughts and […]
This Week’s Theme: Body
This body of yours has carried you across continents and oceans, enduring the most extreme conditions and the strangest foods. Maybe you are proud of all your body has allowed you to see, do and accomplish. Or maybe when you look at yourself in the mirror, you feel shame. Or indifference. Even thinking about your […]