The Art of Holiday Preparation: Purpose and Connection Over Perfection As soon as the clock strikes midnight on November 1st, all attention seems to turn to Christmas. It’s like a collective switch is flipped, and we find ourselves swept into the holiday season with excitement, stress, and anticipation. And let’s be honest; any major celebration requires some preparation. But here’s the thing — preparation doesn’t just mean buying gifts, decorating the house, and planning the…
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Have you ever noticed that 2 am seems to be the perfect time for your brain to unload all the thoughts that somehow stay quiet during the day? It’s as though my mind decides that now, with the house dark and silent, it’s the ideal time to declutter the stored chatter. This late-night surge of thoughts feels oddly familiar and powerful, and if you’ve experienced it, you know exactly what I mean. Over the past…
Leave a CommentI have a hibiscus bush that has made it through several seasons of living inside and outside. I loved it for its color and was happy to make the effort to keep this plant alive. This most recent transition from inside living to the outdoor deck seems particularly rough. It currently looks much like a Hawaiian Charlie Brown’s Christmas tree. I was surveying the hibiscus this past June and wondering out loud with my daughter…
1 CommentYou know the story. The vain Emperor is tricked into thinking he has been given the most exquisite clothing when, in reality, he is parading through town naked. It took a child in the crowd stating the obvious for everyone to come out of the fog of fear and recognize that the Emperor had no clothes. Reflecting on this story, I couldn’t help but draw a parallel to my experience of giving an announcement in…
Leave a CommentAs we sat at the breakfast table on the last day of our eight-day silent retreat, the silence was now broken, and we had the opportunity to connect with each other before leaving. One of my fellow retreatants asked those of us sitting at the table, What’s the theory behind silence? She was self-admittingly brand new to this idea, and it was such a heartfelt and honest question. One person explained that silence allowed one to hear…
1 CommentMany of you are aware that I’ve been pursuing my education. I’m nearing the completion of a certificate in spiritual direction this month. The question I’ve encountered most frequently is, “What exactly is spiritual direction?” It’s a genuine question, understandable given the somewhat authoritative sound of the term “director.” As I began offering spiritual direction, I noticed a common misconception among those pursuing spiritual direction. They often expected answers from me, whereas my role primarily…
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