I can’t count the number of times I’ve heard this question, specifically in the past few years. Sometimes it’s directed towards me, sometimes it’s directed towards someone in my vicinity, sometimes this question is coming out of my own mouth. And while I’ve realized that it’s a basic, get-to-know-you, small talk type of question, I’ve been noticing lately the subtle nuances in the responses of others.
Read MoreThere was a group of us in our middle school who would sit on the curb in our neighborhood to take a rest from skateboarding, or in my case, from watching everyone else skateboard. Amongst idle adolescent chit-chat, someone would ask the question, “What’s your biggest fear?”
Read MoreYou can’t fill the wells with your tears, but you try anyway. Go on, fill the well; empty yourself into that pit quickly before someone sees. Oh, but if only someone would see.
“Will you give me a drink?”
Startled, you look up and see a man standing on the other side of the well. Has he seen you weeping? “Wh-what?” you stutter.
“Will you give me a drink?”
The jar at your feet is empty. The well below is filled with tears.
Read MoreThe first time I caught a glimpse of the Mona Lisa in person, it was a bit of a letdown. This was well before they had encased the famous painting in thick Plexiglas with a cordoned-off square of the floor to keep spectators at a distance. The painting is smaller than one might think. Her cunning smile needs you to crane in as if she is guarding some secret truth that she might let you in on if you’re lucky or just close enough.
Read MoreHave you ever thought about the earth? Like, really thought about it? How it’s positioned perfectly in our little solar system, just the right distance from the sun to not freeze or burn up? How all of the ecosystems and all of the processes and pieces fit together to form intricate environments all over the planet? How when you peel back layers and layers of how it all works, the glory of God is revealed in the teeny tiny details that make everything function the way it does?
Read MoreThese feelings of inadequacy, insignificance, and unworthiness come from my own belief that I’m not important enough to other people. Every significant struggle in my life thus far can be traced back to a connection with another human. I stake so much on how they feel about me. And when they don’t respond to me the way I wish they would — receptive, appreciative, understanding — I feel more than a little unworthy. Is there something wrong with me? But how do all these feelings make my heavenly Father feel?
Read MoreHow many blazers have you tried on? How many “big girl pants” have you not been able to button around your enormous insecurities? How many times have you sat across the table from your next career and felt completely incompetent, too young, and too inexperienced? You need experience to get experience, honey. But we’re directionless, fresh off the college high of potential-filled bliss as we raced toward that diploma. We’ve got a piece of paper in hand, but now they tell us to write our own routine. Suddenly, we’re lost.
Read MoreRoll-and-Scroll: (verb) the act of waking up, rolling over, and scrolling through social media. I can scroll and double-tap with the best of them, but I have to admit, I have often found these apps to be a catalyst of discontent in my life.
Read MoreYou become well acquainted with humility when your pride decides to play hide-and-never-be-found.The regret, shame, blame, anxiety, pity, etc. all hit every midnight and would not rest till my neighbor’s rooster woke the hood.
I was left in a faith paradox. I knew I needed God, but He let me fall; He let me break, He didn’t catch me, He didn’t protect me. How could I trust Him?
Read MoreCoffee’s been a friend of mine for a long time now. It fascinated me first in high school when I learned that walking up to my classroom before the morning bell rang with a Starbucks cup in hand made me look infinitely cooler than I did without one.
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