Knowledge puffs up. Love builds up (1 Cor 8:1). I write and I preach to strengthen people's faith in love. Let’s face it, I write and preach to strengthen MY faith in love. Faith that you are not defined only by what you do or what you’ve done. But the WHOLE of you. Your experiences, your stories, are your wisdom. The more you tap into that wisdom the more you will discover and embrace who you are becoming.
I’ve tried to organize the posts - the lovely circles - by the topics that inform my preaching, coaching and teaching. I hope the experiences, stories, and wisdom shared here, prompt some supportive insights of your own.
All Articles
Finding Joy in Doubt
In your times of darkness, what kept you looking for the light? Did you rely on the witness of others? Did you pray your questions fervently? Did your experience open your heart to deeper empathy and understanding? Acknowledging and exploring doubts and questions is something the prophets have always done.
Giving Yourself Permission
We all need people in our lives that give us permission to be real. Permission to acknowledge what is good, in the midst of what is hard. Permission to acknowledge our strengths in times when we are feeling weak. One person’s permission is most important though.
The Quality of Our Attention
What does your quality of attention say about the identity you are cultivating? Where do you bring your sense of presence? We can appreciate our routines because unlike so many other activities they are not driven by a desire to please. They simply encourage. They get you in the moment.
Practice Makes Permanent
Your practices become permanent, regardless of whether or not they guide you towards perfection. Practices become habits. Which practice do you want to become permanent?
Worst-case Scenario Planner
I’m not sure when I went from eagerly awaiting my future to constantly catastrophizing it. It’s not as constant as it was - thanks to time, therapy, 12-step wisdom and Brené Brown. Back in the day, I was the “Worst Case Scenario Planner.”
Gathering with Gratitude
Holidays come with a plateful of preparations and expectations smothered in a gravy of “shoulds.” Upending regular routines brings some anxiety. To practice wholehearted living, here are five gratitude practices to get you through.
Seeing is Believing
What do RuPaul’s Drag Race and Thomas Merton have in common? When we can see things as they really are, we see beauty, love, joy, friendship, delight in all things. Not just preconceived “correct” things.
What is a Daring Way Intensive?
This past week, a few people asked me the same question about the Daring Way™ workshops I teach and facilitate: “What is an intensive? If I’ve taken one of your classes will it cover the same material?” Arianne takes your questions.
Blessed Assurance & Faithful Endurance
I’m not entirely sure what it means to “gain our soul” but I know what it means to speak from it. May we be prompted to do that! Share our enduring stories of strength and hope to encourage all of us.
Which Work Matters?
Work gives us purpose. We want work that has meaning. As Annie Dillard wrote,”How we spend our days is, of course, how we spend our lives.” That is the work that matters.
Best Boss Advice. Ever.
The 3 insights from my favorite bosses and mentors changed my life and perspective, and they can do the same for you, too.
Who Doesn’t Love a Good Mystery?
If God loves everyone, invites everyone, welcomes everyone into a relationship of belovedness and belonging, why do so many of us have a story of being made to feel like we don’t belong at church?
Start Coaching Your Inner Critic
Does your inner critic chatter, like, ALL THE TIME? Having an inner critic is a part of being human. Enlist your INNER COACH to take charge and calm your critic down.
Love Who You Are Becoming: God Does!
Perennial wisdom which resonates in new ways at different points in one’s life. My recap of Richard Rohr’s The Universal Christ: How a Forgotten Reality Can Change Everything We See, Hope For, And Believe.
Knit Together as Saints
Whenever I’ve attended a clergy conference, retreat, workshop, delegation, convention, you name it – there are clusters of collars, knitting. Someone in your pews needs to be reminded of an experience, a person stitched into their heart.
Displaced Anxiety
We are all, individuals and institutions alike, reluctant to wrestle with, let alone expose, the dark stuff inside. What shared shadows keep us from reaching out for our neighbor, or ourselves?
Here If You Need Me
Alternate title: Stop over-functioning and get comfortable disappointing people. Advice for us helping types. We are drawn to helping, sometimes too much.
Build a Container
If you want to walk out of your next meeting feeling like you were an effective & productive leader, begin with these 4 key questions. Whatever your title, you will be fostering community, building relationships, and modeling the heart of a leader who cares about her people.
Becoming a Daring Way Facilitator: Part 1
The smile in that photo was a breakthrough, the day before had been filled with tears. Life is always becoming - a back and forth between tears and smiles, hellos and goodbyes, grief and joy, which in so many ways is what The Daring Way(TM) is all about.
10 Podcasts to Prompt Your Preaching
Hands down the 10 best podcasts to prompt your preaching. These will leave you thinking and inspired.
