Change and the Last Page
I’m not a fan of change. When I was five years old I told a family member that I didn’t want to turn six; I had just gotten used to being five. That’s pretty much quintessential me. I’m also not a fan of suspense, which is an element of change. When novels carry too much […]
On the Floor of the Closet with Jesus
I’m one year away from crying on the floor of my closet. Ok, maybe not a closet exactly. A wardrobe, built-in, with barely enough room for my winter coats let alone my sorry bum and a box of tissues. So maybe not the wardrobe, but definitely somewhere. Because this, I know, is how I cope […]
Hooked on Change
A couple of weeks ago I was sitting next to my 10-year-old daughter on the couch. She was still wearing the pajamas she had worn the night before, even though it was already 4pm. She was reading her favorite book series and I was lazing on my computer. In the middle of that quiet moment […]
This Grace in Which We Stand
There’s a danger in being honest with yourself. A danger that the honest version of you is grubbier than you would ever dream. More broken. More fragile. More vulnerable to attack, belittlement, shame, and sorrow. This sensation can intensify while living abroad. Cultural transition is already a vulnerable position. When you attempt it alone, the […]
How Will Our Children Adapt?
Our questions breeze right in through the open windows of our minds: fearful reactions can grip us with chilled anxiety, while sun-kissed, hope-filled responses enable us to envision a bright future. When we decide to enter into another culture, we truly don’t know how that choice will affect each of our uniquely-designed children. How will […]
Throwing Caution to the Wind as I Connect to Myself, the Father and the Unknown
At the beginning of 2016, I completely disconnected from my normal life in South Africa. I packed up my apartment, resigned from my job as a veterinary nurse, threw caution to the wind and left for England. Now, it is almost a year later, and I am summing up the courage to throw even more […]
An Extra Companion in Bed at Night
The morning sun peaked through the cracks of our bedroom curtains. “Morning already?” The last thing I remember was rolling onto my side for sleep at the end of a long day. My days were long because I homeschooled four kids as we adjusted to life back in the USA. Our family still grieved the […]
When the Connections Appear to Dim
“Your father has Alzheimers” – that was the diagnosis given to us several years ago. The weight of that statement struck our hearts with dread and a heaviness of grief as we processed that this man we loved would lose his connection with us and with the world around him. As we left that appointment, […]
Onward Christian Hobo
I started 2016 with a prayer penned in my journal “Shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.” It’s a beautiful and poetic line from The Message (Psalm 51:7-15). Instead of doing a One Word for the year, I claimed this as my phrase. Looking back, I realize I had absolutely no idea […]
From Airplane to Car
One of my favorite views from an airplane is the descent into LAX – houses, cars and freeways for miles. All of it looks small, and I often wonder where everyone is headed while they sit in rush hour traffic. Now as I pass an airport on my way to and from work each day, […]
Learning to Kiss It Goodbye
If we’re honest, I’d say many of us could name a biblical story, character or lesson that annoys, if not downright upsets us. I’ll admit to rolling my eyes at Peter and Paul’s quarreling or shaking my head at Jonah’s final act of helplessness (did those three days in the belly of a fish teach […]
Others’ Grief: Hold it Loosely
You’ve been preparing yourself emotionally, financially, and spiritually for this move. Chances are, you’ve been doing this for quite some time. Moving across the world (or into a strategic community) is no small thing. And as you’ve packed bags and repacked bags and begun separating yourself from the life you’ve always known, man…it stings. Grief […]