Good News

[A follow-up to An Unfamiliar, Scary Place]

When I walked onto the grounds of the residential facility, I saw Ethan* far in the distance, in between the trees, swinging a stick back and forth.  The reports I had been getting from his therapist the past two weeks were that he had been failing in school and leaving the building every afternoon, decidedly unwilling to complete any of his assignments.  His therapist also said he has the lowest self esteem of any of the kids she is working with.

I met Ethan’s therapist on the walk into the nearest cottage.  After ten minutes, Chris and Cat* joined us.  We hugged, excited for what the day meant.  We sat down, swapping stories from the afternoon.  I pulled out my folder and took out a single paper, “Intent to Adopt” written at the top. 

Gathered and Sent

“I worship in the church of the open skies,” quipped my friend regarding his religious affiliations. He talked of his surfing and hiking as spiritual experiences of worship as if to say he doesn’t need that stuffy religion in order to “connect to God”. And that’s how we think of worship in the evangelical church, isn’t it? That we are gathering together to connect to God. And so my friend does have a point – why can’t we just connect to God on our own? Why do I need all these “rules” and “sermons” to facilitate an inward connection to my maker? It’s a good question.

Art Prize

Before posting my thoughts, I would love to hear your response to the question:

What is Worship?

Have at it in the comment section.

New Season, New Practices*

As I look over the past ten days, I have experienced a lot of joy and challenge, mostly around beginning classes at WTS. It’s a joy to be fully committed to something, to dive in with my whole heart and give my best. It’s a joy to enter into a community of love and formation in which I feel welcomed and embraced. I feel joy at the end of the day knowing I have worked well toward a good end. I feel joy as I engage in my readings and subject matter and learn so much about a God who loves me way more than I ever thought. It has been a challenge to get less sleep and