When Christmas is Difficult
The Christmas season is the toughest time of the year for many people. The holidays have a way of magnifying what we wish were different in our personal lives. To complicate matters, retailers and advertisers attempt to paint a picture of what a “perfect” Christmas might look like if all were right in our world. […]
You Can Pretend to Care, but You Can’t Pretend to Show Up: An Advent Message
Hard times are a drag, but they do clarify who your people are. If you’ve ever experienced a crisis, you’ve probably learned that some people show up on your doorstep while others you thought you could count on are glaringly absent. Ask anyone who has experienced a long season of struggle, and they’ll quickly tell […]
Taking Thanksgiving to the Next Level
When I was a child, I had asthma. Typically, it landed me in the hospital a couple of times each year. It’s been four decades, but I still remember those hospitalizations. Day after day of breathing treatments, blood draws from my wrist (big ouch), and sitting quietly in an oxygenated tent until my airway opened […]
The Case for the Psalms of Lament
In modern culture, there’s a high premium placed upon “looking on the bright side.” For the most part, people are uncomfortable with open expressions of grief, uncertainty, and sadness. Quite frankly, it makes us nervous. We aren’t keen on weakness or vulnerability. And to be fair, maintaining a positive attitude is important. Living with hopeful […]