One of the gifts of being a clergy person is the moments of insight, intimacy, and holiness. That gift is probably one of the primary things that keep me going, especially in the midst of weeks when the vocation feels more full of challenge than full of blessing. The cool thing about the gift is...
I have regularly told people that when I preach, I am preaching to myself. I find that my messages often resonate with others, but first and foremost, I make sure they resonate with me. This has led to me needing to be honest about my faith struggles, to be vulnerable about how I still need to...
I am a huge college basketball fan. Well, actually I am a huge Duke Basketball fan, which means I tend to know more about college basketball than any other sport. This week is the Duke-Carolina game – one of the biggest rivalries in the country and certainly one of the biggest sporting...
Being pregnant is a pretty incredible experience. I have been so grateful to experience the phenomenon one more time with our second child, and continue to be amazed by the miracle of pregnancy. Of course, being pregnant comes with a certain set of consequences too. The funniest for me has been...
Last week I went to visit my OB for a checkup. We began to talk about delivery dates, as I am having a cesarean section with our second child. The doctor selected a date that is about one week before what I expected. I left the office totally panicked. I would need to totally readjust my plan...
I grew up in the South, which means I have a particular perspective about the experience of snow. When snow was in the forecast, even a little dusting, schools were usually closed, people stayed off the road, and the grocery store shelves were bare. We did not have the kind of equipment needed...
I am pretty well known among people for my laugh. I suppose the best way to describe it is loud, boisterous, or hearty. People have told me that they know I am in a room or can find me in the room simply based on my laugh. I have often found that somehow my laugh makes others laugh or...
This past Sunday, our church held its annual Epiphany Pageant. Since the pageant involves using Scripture and hymns to retell the entirety of Jesus’ birth narratives, the pageant replaces most of the Liturgy of the Word (the part of the service when we traditionally read/chant the...
