Shattered Silence

You Can't Wish Away A Season   A few weeks ago, I was at worship practice when one of my co-leaders emptied her heart in caring-sharing time, and I felt compelled to do the same.   Through authentic tears and a heartfelt, heavy spirit, she wept into the comfort of her boyfriend's arms, sobbing, "You Can't Wish Away A Season."   And ever since she stated that simple remark, I haven't been able to shake the goosebumps I feel inside when I think about that phrase.   As a Christian, I have been taught to live and breathe the motto of Philippians 4:12-13.   "I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want.   I can do all this through him who gives me strength (Philippians 4:12-13, NIV)".   That rather my life is all sunshine and rainbows or rainclouds before the storm, Christ has to be eno...

Busy Never Stops   Since the beginning of November, I have been extremely overwhelmed, overbooked, oversensitive, overworked, and overstressed, to say the least.   Following up my Fall 2018 semester with four months of Student Teaching (starting in January) that would lead to graduation, it was clear that my mental, physical, social, emotional, and spiritual life was (is) crumbling.   From a serious acne breakout to stomach issues, depression, anxiety, and burnout, it was becoming clear to me that despite my wonderful boyfriend, dance team, supportive friends, and powerful God, that without taking time to rest, I would only further continue to widen and deepen my hole of despair.   Reading a Devotional one cool winter evening, as I snuggled deep into the comfort of my heated blanket, the warmth of more than just the sheet itself began to press itself upon my soul.   Hearing the words come to life like narrators reading their smoked and softly primed mo...

The Scavenger Hunt   Every year at Christmas since I can remember, my Dad has made me a witty scavenger hunt leading up to my biggest present hidden somewhere in the house.   As I grew older, I began to realize that I didn’t want presents so much as people and experiences rather than things, yet, never the less, year after year, I would beg my Dad to make me one of these hunts regardless of the present at the end of the puzzling codes and clues.   Accordingly, year after year, he would make me one, and to this day, it is still my favorite Christmas present that I physically receive because of the mystery, solving, and hide and seek that takes place.   Over 2000 year ago, some people I’ve heard much about also fell in love with this expectation of mystery and solving the latest collection of scavenger hunt clues that they held at their fingertips- they just didn’t know it yet.   In the Old Testament, it is cited various times by numerous Prophets and wor...