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
lessons learned
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
Release and Rise Up
Though I call myself a pragmatist, I’ve got a touch of dreamer inside me. Like all of us I have a handful of lofty aspirations that seem out of reach for now: ideal work opportunities, visionary partnerships, and future collaborations. Some time ago I was speaking at an event. While I always look forward to connecting with audiences, this Read More
Finding Peace in the Wait
Have you ever tried to download a number of large files to your computer at the same time? If you’ve purchased a TV series through iTunes or received high-resolution pictures from an important event that you couldn’t wait to view, you can probably identify with this scenario. You sit impatiently as the progress bar barely creeps toward Read More
Relaxation as a Spiritual Discipline
I have a productivity obsession. I wouldn’t go so far as to call it an addiction, though in describing to a friend how euphoric it feels to check off a bunch of to-dos, he said, “You kind of sound like a junkie.” He may be right. Up until a year ago I didn’t think I had a problem. When I heard experts talk about self-care and meditation and “me” Read More
Lessons Learned in Advocacy and Organizing
Last week I spoke at the United Methodist Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. The event was hosted by the Conference Commission on Religion and Race, the Conference Board of Church & Society, and the Commission on Christian Unity and Interfaith Relationships. I was asked to speak about how to build ecumenical, diverse teams for justice. Here Read More