A Sabbath Prayer

My mom used to sing this over us before we went to bed. Tonight I tried to sing it over my girls but I had to make up most of the words. YouTube to the rescue, of course! I loved this version with the words at the bottom. Play this when you get a couple of minutes to yourself. May you feel the power of the blessing! [youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LnaZqHy2ZHE&hl=en&fs=1]

My Hollywood Ending

I have a situation at work right now that needs a classic Hollywood ending. It involves a student who isn’t living up to the contract he signed to be in my choir. I have simple rules; one of them is that students must “sing in an audible voice.” (Seems obvious, but, remember, I work with troubled youth and this class has open enrollment. It is also one of only two mixed gender classes on our...

Community

I love books. I especially love it when a book seems to come into my life as an unexpected delight. This week I happened to pick up a copy of Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Life Together. It is a book that has come highly recommened but one I’ve never managed to read. For some reason, this was my time. I’m only two chaperters in and I’ve already been convicted and inspired. (A good combination,...

Looking for Thin Places

I’m reading a lot about monasticism and ancient spiritual disciplines right now. It probably doesn’t sound that interesting, but I am the kind of person who loves a deep dive into a research project. (So much to learn in this world and so little time with which to learn it!) As a mature but still hungry Christian, I am looking into ancient disciplines as a tool for knowing God more intimately. In my...

Happy Birthday

I’m a big fan of milestones. A couple of weeks ago, my baby, Macy Cheri, turned 1. This is her just getting into her birthday cupcake: I don’t do a ton of super-domestic things, but I make cupcakes, really good cupcakes with fluffy marshmallow icing. In May I heard a great idea at a baccalaureate service. (Graduations, birthdays, I love milestones!) The speaker told the young people about his...