In celebration of completing my manuscript for Women Rise Up, to be published with the FAR press in early 2019, I want to share this excerpt from my chapter on Mary Magdalene. The Spirit of God moves at unexpected times and places. When I spot a single red bloom among the barren trees in wintertime. When I watch my daughter takes a bite out Read More
Faith
Claim Your Expertise
Years ago I attended a women’s workshop hosted by The OpEd Project, an organization dedicated to diversifying voices in the media. The first exercise was for each of us to state our particular area of expertise to the group. I remember the anxiety I felt as I attempted to articulate what felt truthful and authentic to claim as an area of personal Read More
Creating Space for Wisdom Sharing
Along with spending more time in silence, another spiritual practice I’m cultivating is creating space for the wisdom of the room to emerge. At a basic level this involves talking less and listening more. Keeping quiet is a discipline I’ve had to learn. I was the type of kid who raised my hand to speak in class at every opportunity. One day in Read More
Listening for the Wisdom in the Room
In a room full of wise women gathered for the United Methodist Women’s Assembly, I invited those attending my workshops to dive into the same biblical texts that I focus on in my forthcoming book Women Rise Up. I divided them into small groups, assigned each one a story, and asked them to explore together two simple, though not necessarily easy Read More
Is there Space for Beyoncé in Worship?
Last month nearly 1,000 people gathered at Grace Cathedral, an Episcopal congregation in San Francisco, to participate in a worship service notably referred to as the Beyoncé Mass. Several of Beyoncé’s songs, including “Survivor,” “Flaws And All,” and “Freedom,” were sung throughout the liturgy. The service included a reading from Ella Baker and Read More
Failure to Comply
“When is your book going to come out?” I’ve learned that for an author, this question is akin to asking a pregnant woman past her due date: “You haven’t had that baby yet?” I’m pleased to share that I’ve submitted the latest version of Women Rise Up to my publisher. And no, I still don’t have a publication date. Stay tuned for updates! For Read More
When Spirit Speaks
Though I couldn’t call myself a skeptic in general, I’m always a bit dubious when someone claims to have an audible connection with the divine. I’ve found sacred guidance to be more subtle than that, revealed slowly over time through snippets of conversations and on the pages journals and during walks in the woods with my dog. Revelations are Read More
The Work is Now
Last week I was driving home after teaching a group fitness class when I heard a voice clearly say: “You are already doing the work you want to do.” I’m not inclined to claim that I have an audible connection to the divine, and I’ll admit my inner critic tends to be loud and disarming. Still, something about this voice felt different, somehow Read More
Cooling the Sting of Disappointment
“Always a finalist, never an offer.” The disappointment of making it to the final round but not being selected is tough to stomach. When it happens repeatedly, it’s soul-crushing. Over the last two years I’ve experienced it enough times that it’s almost comical. Almost. Anytime we throw our hats into the ring, whether it’s for a new position Read More
Say Yes to Saying No
“We have a few more spots on this committee we need to fill. Are you interested?” Before I could ask myself if this was something I even wanted to do, I felt the impulse to blurt out, “Yes!” But just before I spoke, I heard my inner voice tell me to stop. And I listened. Volunteering for things is so ingrained that I’ll take on new Read More