Last fall I had to face a conflicting reality in my life: I would soon be eligible for a four month Sabbatical. Our church has a policy that after a number of years of continuous work, pastors can apply for a extended time of leave to learn, refresh and recharge. This year, my time had…
I don’t know why it can be so ridiculously hard for me to stop working, but the last couple of weeks I have learned that it takes hard work to not work – hard, necessary work. Next week, I am taking a week’s vacation. It is completely random for me to take a week’s vacation…
Well, if you follow me at all you know that I was a leetle uncertain about turning 40. That big grown-up number freaked me out for all the wrong reasons. I’m happy to report, as often happens with things that I worry about, everything turned out just fine. In fact, more than fine, turning 40…
In just a couple of days, I will turn the big 4-0. As I approach this milestone, many people have asked me how I feel about it. “Well,” I answer, “To be honest, I am pretty much freaking out.” Listen, I want to be able to say that I am feeling grateful and eager…
I remember that Christmas when what I wanted most in the whole world was to be having a baby. We had been hoping to have children for a while, but after some tests we were waiting for an appointment with fertility specialists. It was November when we got the news that conceiving on our own…
One of the common things that I hear when people talk to me about women being preachers, particularly among those new to the idea, is the statement: “I’ve never seen it.” Sometimes this is a statement meant to express a simple lack of experience, often said with regret. Other times it is meant to make…
I have always hated my legs. Well, at least I have hated them for as long as I knew that your legs were a thing you could hate about yourself. I have memories of shopping for shorts in grade seven and complaining about them then, so I am working on 27 years of leg hatred.…
This week, my sermon was from a part of the Bible that talks about how awesome the Bible is. The author of this particular text raves about how God’s word is their source of light and their foundation. When I saw the passage (Psalm 119: 129-134, for those of you wondering), I groaned. Why? Because…
A couple of weeks ago I was getting ready to do a wedding and I couldn’t find the clipboard I usually use to hold my notes. After some rummaging around, I found an old folder that would do the trick. As I was putting my papers in it, I noticed that there was something in…
I am still basking in the glow of an event in which I recently participated: “In the Company of Women,” a conference about women and men sharing in leadership in the Church. The idea behind this gathering must have struck a chord, because while the organizers were hoping for 50 people to attend, they ended…
