I have just finished devouring Julia Baird’s luscious book, Phosphorescence. One of the highlights for me—beyond the allure of ‘forest bathing’; beyond the call to authenticity and connection; beyond the notion of my own bioluminescence—was the invitation to stillness. Stillness, or silence, is not necessarily the absence of noise. On the contrary, it can include natural […]
Surviving COVID-19
I Resolve to Retreat
I’m not setting any goals for this year. Living in a pandemic, I have learned that one can set goals that seem totally realistic one week but which can mutate into something completely impossible the next. My personal goals around publishing books, travel and even self-care plans have been decimated over the past two years. […]
A Stranger on Earth
Living on earth can take a toll on us. Pandemics. Natural disasters. Poverty. The exhaustion of politics, corruption and social causes. This life can be painful. And some days it can feel like the pain will never end. As a person living with chronic illness, the pain is literally never-ending. Don’t get me wrong. Some […]
Ducklings in Winter
‘I saw ducklings today,’ said my husband. I paused, mid-movement. ‘That’s nice’ was my astute response. The cogs in my brain slowly began to turn. ‘Wait… ducklings? We’re in the middle of winter!’ ‘That’s what I thought!’ replied my husband. Yes, ducklings are usually a feature of springtime. They come out with the other baby […]
10 Things I Love About You: An Open Letter To COVID-19
Dear COVID-19, It seems only yesterday you came into my life. You have been here for a couple of months now, and while our relationship is still new, I feel as though I am beginning to get to know you. You have changed my life. Of course, COVID-19, it is tempting to treat this letter […]
Lament and Repent
As much as people have been panicking lately, we have seen acts of incredible kindness of generosity. It is a silver lining of crisis. Unfortunately, we have also seen some of the worst of human behaviour. I think this says a lot about humanity – and how pandemics can pull the curtain back on our […]
Jesus in Isolation
Now that Easter has passed, I find myself thinking about Jesus and his times of isolation. I must have isolation on the brain. I wonder why. In these trying times, it can be tempting to think others who have gone before us have not experienced this hardship. When it comes to Jesus, we may be […]
Faith in a Time of You-Know-What
Ever since the you-know-what hit mere weeks ago, I have seen an escalation of anxiety in the world. The presence of a pandemic, coupled with social isolation, has served to heighten the anxiety of many people. This has me thinking about fear, lament and faith. What exactly does it mean to have faith in a […]
Fearless at the Cliff-Edge
Pandemics bring out interesting phenomena in people. Scrolling through social media, one might easily believe the apocalypse has arrived. “Doom! Doom!” They seem to shout. “It’s the end of the world!” One would think the world had already ended. In the face of such panic and pandemonium, it is easy to become afraid. We are […]
Bouncy
I love jumping castles. As a kid, I recall going into transports of delight whenever I saw the giant inflatable marvel at a fair. I would take off my shoes, methodically placing them on the side (shout-out to my fellow anal-retentives, hello?) and throw myself about the castle with abandon. Now that I am an […]