interpersonal neurobiology
-
Pleasant Places
The verses that inspired “The Edge of Goodness” the poem (and later became the name for my book) were from Psalm 106: ”They despised the pleasant land and did not believe his promise. They grumbled in their tents and did not listen to the Lord.“ Psalms 106:24-25 CSB Despising pleasant places sounded strange and intriguing, Continue reading
-
Withness: Sitting in someone else’s discomfort
The thing with sharing about myself is thatno one really gets to see meuntil I know how they will hold me with me.Their questions and commentsabout my story or struggleare well-meaning. I just know sometimescomments are used subconsciouslyto create distancebetween my story and themselves. Discomfort is hard. Sometimes people offer bandaidsto help themselves feel better. Continue reading
-
(re)parenting
About a year ago I read an interview where someone said that the Bible only has a few passages that speak directly to how to raise kids. They said the area of parenting styles is one (mostly) of personal freedom for Christians. While I agree with this and need to be reminded of this often, Continue reading
-
Asking the Father
I love (and sometimes really dislike) how my kids are unafraid to ask me for unreasonable things, cry when I say “no,” and then come to me for comfort. Their tears aren’t toward me personally, though it may feel like it to them and myself for a time. Their tears are really for the loss Continue reading
-
Building Something New
“What’s that guy doing?” he asked in his drawn out 2 year old voice. “He’s using a jack hammer to break up the street,” I answered. “But whyyyy?” came the infamous question from the back of the car. “Because sometimes,” I said with a catch in my voice, “you have to break down old things Continue reading
-
A Child
Her warm body nestled into mine. My arm resting over her waist. Her hand placed on my arm. My nose pressed against her head breathing in the smell of her freshly washed hair. My wiggly, expressive, imaginative girl relaxed and resting beside me. I wish it were that easy to trust. I wish it were Continue reading
-
Sit With Me
“That’s called empathy,” I told my then three year old as I pointed to Frog sitting on the porch next to Toad who was feeling sad about never having got a letter. Frog and Toad Are Friends: The Letter is probably my favorite Frog and Toad story and I was trying to reign in my Continue reading
-
When Doubt Doesn’t Equal Insecurity
Like many deep feeling/thinking introverts I’ve gone through my far share of seasons of doubt, confusion, and anger toward God. They used to make me so fearful. This last season was different, though. I stopped saying I was “questioning my faith.” I started being honest that I was questioning God’s character. I knew I had Continue reading
-
Be Here
I followed the narrow foot trial down a little hill towards the woods. It was an overcast day – my favorite time to run. I listened to the worship music coming from the little mp3 player clipped to my shorts. I leaned forward and let gravity take me down the hill as another song began. Continue reading
-
Renewed
Last Sunday our pastor pointed out that living by the Spirit is the command Galatians 5. The fruit of the Spirit is simply what the Spirit produces in us when we walk by the Spirit. He then challenged us to look into what walking by the Spirit actually looks like in daily life. I feel Continue reading
-
More than word on a page
“I luv you. And you luv me.” I was around 6, I think. I sat next to Grandma’s little lamp with a red pen and a piece of scrap paper. I wanted to write a note to Mom and Dad about how I loved them and was so happy and grateful for them. I struggled Continue reading
The Worth Of Knowing 