Parable of the Sabbath
It was our first year as cross-cultural workers in India. While on a walk in the Himalayan foothills, we passed a painted cement house. There a lady sat pounding her family’s soapy clothing with a rock. She looked up as we passed by. “Namaste,” I greeted her. “Namaste,” she said, using the back of her […]
Sabbath Week
This week will be quiet around Velvet Ashes as we take time off social media and our blog. Join us? We pray peace and rest for you this week!
A Journey Into Rest
I turn off the kitchen light, sink into my seat at the table, laden beautifully with a simple tablecloth, flowers if we have them, our best dishes, the food we have worked together to prepare. The light of the two candlesticks flickers as we offer a blessing. We close our eyes for a minute, or […]
Trusting God with the Rest
Rest. This seems to be something I have been thinking a lot about but haven’t been able to fully vocalize in a tangible way. There has been a push over the past few years for more self-care and mental wellness. For those of who follow Christ, I think it goes even deeper than that—like a […]
This Month’s Theme: Rest
“There have to be times to sit with your gratitude for the good gifts in your life that get forgotten in the rush. To celebrate and play and roll down hills and splash in water and spread paint on paper or walls or each other. There have to be times to sit and wait for […]
Announcing a Change
I just said a prayer, asking the Holy Spirit to write this post for me. I know I can’t do it. I can’t communicate to you, dear community, all that I want to say in this post. Those of you who are subscribers received an update email from me last month in which I shared […]
The Blind Will Receive Sight
And Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight and the lame walk, lepers are cleansed and the deaf hear, and the dead are raised up, and the poor have good news preached to them. And blessed is the one who is not offended by me.” […]
High Speed Waiting
“High speed waiting.” This sign above the entrance to a waiting room in a bus station in China made me smile. It was attempting to describe the room where one waits for the high speed bus. But, isn’t this how we often feel about waiting: fly through it, and get it over quick? One time […]
Put on Hold
Why is waiting so difficult? At times, it seems I’d rather gnaw off my own arm than wait–at least there would be something to DO. The action, even though extremely painful and harmful to myself, would somehow feel productive and gratify my deep need to be productive. “Strength will rise as we wait upon the […]
Admit It . . .
Ten months ago I felt a slight pain in my left shoulder. I ignored it as I figured with time it would eventually get better. It did improve over the summer, but this fall it started hurting. Again, I just ignored it, but after two months it was worse. Christmas season was in full swing, […]
I’m Done with Self Care
Dog-tired and bone-weary, I slipped into Seat 33A. Loose ends tied up. Last minute details checked off. Hugs hugged. Home assignment begun. What kept me moving in the weeks prior was the hope of a few days in a quiet cabin in the woods. A little stream providing rhythm for birds’ melodies outside the window. […]
Trust God Enough to Take a Day Off
I began learning about rest by not resting. There are countless reasons I could list for why we should rest, why we need to rest, how rest is beneficial, but what is impressed on me most of all lately is that, truly, rest is an act of faith. But I didn’t see that at first. […]