Reader, One of the first questions I ask new clients is, "Why are you coming to see me?" While each person comes to me with unique challenges and life experiences, I often receive a variation of this answer: "I feel stuck." This feeling shows up in a variety of ways: They feel like their faith is stagnant, and they're not sure how to rekindle the vibrant connection they once felt with God. They've achieved a lot of professional success, but the awards and accolades haven't filled the...
8 days ago • 2 min read
Reader, When my kids were younger, one of their favorite games was hide and seek. I was always "it," which meant I had to close my eyes and count as loudly as I could. Meanwhile, they scurried off to hide somewhere in the house, doing their best to stifle their eager giggles. But there was a problem: my kids had trouble grasping the concept of this game. As soon as I called out, "Ready or not, here I come!" they immediately sprinted from their hiding places, yelling at the top of their lungs....
4 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, My heart was full of the Easter spirit last Monday. We'd had a great Sunday service and glorious time with family. When the weekdays rolled around, I wasn't ready to let it go. So I pulled out my laptop and began searching for an Eastertide reading plan. I wanted to spend deliberate time in the Word, specifically with the resurrected Jesus. And I figured that there'd be a lot of resources out there to help me do that. Well, I figured wrong. Apparently, we give all of our liturgical...
5 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, Healthy growth happens in stages. Babies don't come out of the womb walking, reading news updates, and day trading. They just lie there like a lump for a bit, completely dependent on others for everything. They gradually learn how to roll over, then crawl, then walk, then run. Meanwhile, they're also learning how to clap, how to stack things, and how to speak words. One stage leads to the next. It is not wrong for a baby to be in a less advanced stage. In fact, each stage is...
6 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, Last week, I wrote about the soul, describing it as the part "where you commune deeply with God, and he teaches you about who he is and who you are." Every single person has this part inside them. But just because we have that part does not mean we're enjoying deep communion. When you're not connected with your soul, the path of your life becomes clouded. Real meaning and purpose elude you. So, how do you cultivate that connection? Jesus promised that if we draw near to him, he will...
7 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, If you didn't keep your New Year's resolution, you're not a bad person. You're not lazy. You're not undisciplined. You're not weak. You're just focusing on the wrong thing. Most goals focus on a desired outcome: "I want to get in shape." "I want to stop doomscrolling." "I want to read my Bible more." But consider this: If naming the outcome was effective, everyone would be living a holistic, healthy life. "Okay," you might think, "so I should focus on a process instead." Things like:...
8 months ago • 1 min read
Reader, This series of Advent emails is admittedly countercultural. In a season that bustles with activity, we’ve invited you to sit in silence. In a season that glitters with flashing lights and bright colors, we’ve asked you to face your inner darkness. In a season filled with echoes of “Happy holidays!”, we’ve dared you to wonder, “What if Jesus doesn’t show up?” At times, it might feel like we’ve invited you to behave like the ascetics of old—devout men and women who pursued radical...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, Last week, we invited you to reflect on your life and name the darkness you need Christ to break into. But what if he doesn’t? You probably weren’t expecting that question. As American Christians, we rarely encounter heavy thoughts like that. We’re willing to entertain doubt, but only as a theoretical possibility—one we can ponder from the safety of our favorite armchair. When we were kids, however, it was a different story. Childhood fears often feel all-consuming. Since they lack...
9 months ago • 2 min read
Reader, Advent is not just a journey towards Christmas Day and the arrival of the Christ Child. For those of us who live in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s also a journey towards the shortest—and therefore darkest—day of the year. This growing darkness is palpable. It’s there when we wake in the morning. It accompanies us on our commutes, whether we’re going to work or returning home. It saps our strength. Our bodies feel the darkness, instinctively prompting us to turn in for the night when...
10 months ago • 2 min read