A poem for Christmas.
These Shoulders
Sparrow
I am so excited to announce that my second book, Sparrow: Cultivating a Sabbatical Heart, is coming to shelves near you in less than a week! What grace, that God would take a very difficult season and turn it into a blessing—not only for our family, but for anyone who needs to know that there... Continue Reading →
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You can argue till you’re blue in the face.
It is Saturday, not yet noon, when the doorbell rings. Jehovah’s Witnesses. They come by every other month or so, always catching me off-guard—dressed in my yoga pants to clean, or midway through cooking up a weekend brunch. They come in pairs, or threes, wearing suits and ties, dresses and patent leather shoes, bright smiles... Continue Reading →
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Catalyst for Compassion
It’s a book for people with a passion for justice. For readers who love a well-told story. For students with a hankering for history. It’s a book for folks who want their life to count, but worry it won’t. For would-be world-changers who wonder how to invest their time and energy. For those who would... Continue Reading →
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The Last First Day
This past week two of my kids had their last first day of school. Our son, Joshua, is a senior. Our daughter, Abigail, just a junior, is nevertheless on track to finish a year early. No more rushing out with forgotten lunches, no more parent-teacher meetings, no more number two pencils. This year is a... Continue Reading →
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Lowbrow Poetry
Yesterday I posted a poem. Most of my people aren’t poets, so I feel the need to explain. What is a poem, and why would I write one, and why would I share one, imperfect as it is? Why do I bother to read poetry when I’m not a poet—and why would I say I’m... Continue Reading →
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Westminster Abbey
A poem for the Abbey.
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Hill and Dale
We came to England for two reasons: first, that my husband could log long hours of research for his PhD, but second, that when he had finished (I use the word loosely), we could rest and recharge. Fourteen years we've been church planting, but we'll return home to a new season. This mini-sabbatical is our... Continue Reading →
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Sojourners Abroad
I suppose everyone who's ever traveled very long or very far from home has had two epiphanies in common: All my life, I never knew __________ was wonderful.All my life, I never knew __________ was pathetic. You travel from the US to the UK and suddenly become very aware of the life-changing delight of clothes... Continue Reading →
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How big is your God?
Inclusive, therapeutic deism posits a benign encourager in the sky—not, perhaps, strong enough to combat evil, but certainly frowning upon unkindness; not, perhaps, miraculous, but certainly winsome. God is the best Ted Talk guy ever. Carefully snipping away bits of the Bible that seem, well, problematic, has left a holey book in place of a... Continue Reading →
Catherine's Letters 