Category: Faith

Our Father

I wrote this piece two weeks ago, not knowing how much more important its message would be just a few days later…

Last weekend I was in London. I spent Sunday afternoon walking along the South Bank and watching people as they enjoyed the unusually hot summer weather.
So many people from all kinds of backgrounds.
So many faces I’ve never seen before. I cannot help but wonder what their stories are.
Do they live in London or are they visiting? What has their week been like? What has brought them here today?
And how can this world be so diverse? Continue reading “Our Father”

I Am Done Playing

It’s a thrilling moment. Well, at least for a second grader.
During the breaks we would all play ‘hide and seek’. One counts, the others run and hide.
I remember the times I had to seek.
It was exciting to see where others had hidden, but it was also really unnverving.
Where are they? Where do I have to go seek in order to find them?
I must admit I wasn’t a good seeker. Continue reading “I Am Done Playing”

What Generosity Feels Like

There I was sitting at Stansted Airport, waiting for my flight to get back home.
For the third time, the departure time had been delayed and now it was getting really late. I checked my watch anxiously – what if the plane landed too late? What if I missed the last train home from the airport? I wouldn’t get home until the next day and I had to work. Continue reading “What Generosity Feels Like”

Our Business

He said, “Let there be light”, and there was light.
He said, “Let the earth bring forth crops and flowers and trees”, and the earth was suddenly green.
He said, “Let there be animals of all kinds”, and all the big and small animals started populating the earth.
He said, “Let there be”, and it came into being.
God’s business is to create. Continue reading “Our Business”

Look Below the Surface

Our neighbors are building a new house.
Within days they have torn down the old one and are now digging deep holes for the new one. I would have had the chance to sleep in a little this morning, but no. 7 a.m. sharp the construction workers show up. Machines are running, and once in a while you can feel the entire building shake. Continue reading “Look Below the Surface”

Listen to the Little Things

It starts with the little things.
When I get up in the morning, but my body is still weary from the day before – I know it’s time to rest.
When my hair starts falling out and my wrists starts itching – I know it’s time to rest.
When I snap at people for no obvious reason – I know it’s time to rest.
When I forget about people because I am so focused on the product – I know it’s time to stop. Continue reading “Listen to the Little Things”

Of Losing and Finding

In the last few years I had to deal with loss quite a bit.
I saw friends losing loved ones, and having nothing but pain leaves you speechless.
I lost relationships I thought I could count on, leaving me disappointed and disillusioned.
I moved and traveled to places, leaving me with a deafening feeling of not belonging anywhere.
I transitioned from university into work life and never imagined this change would impact me so much.
I am losing, or rather rediscovering, my faith and sometimes I feel like walking alone on a wide open sea.  Continue reading “Of Losing and Finding”

What I Want

What do I want?

I want to go back to when things seemed to be easier.
When I didn’t have to worry about food on the table, bills to pay, an appartment to clean.
When I could rely on others taking care of me.
When I could just go back to school after the summer instead of job hunting.
I want to grow in the challenges life sets before me. Continue reading “What I Want”

The Wonderful Exhausting Pilgrimage of Life

I got off at the airport and picked up my rental car.
And then I started driving.
It had been four years since I had driven on the left side and I was surprised how quickly I got back into the rhythm. It was dark, but with a GPS and a sort of sense of direction I found my friends’ cottage I would be staying at for the next few days.

‘Pilgrims Rest’ said the sign on the door.
How appropriate. Continue reading “The Wonderful Exhausting Pilgrimage of Life”

If We Don’t Grow We’ll Die

It’s just been two weeks since I finished my teacher training, and it still feels unreal most of the time. Am I really done after such a long time of studying and practicing and learning?

Well, the certificate is done. But I guess I am not done learning. In fact I never want to be done.

There is a saying, “if you stop learning you’ll die.”

I don’t want to die.
Instead I want to continue learning.

I want to make myself available for new experiences that might come in unexpected times and places.
I want to keep my eyes open for the beautiful, the broken, the hope that’s so often forgotten.
I want to challenge myself to go outside my comfort zone and test the waters.
I want to let others tell me their story and share more of life together.

I don’t want to die.
Instead I want to continue growing.

I want to dig my roots deep into the ground so that I’m able to soar to new heights.
I want to plant myself in a fruitful community that allows us to help each other grow.
I want to get to know myself and God more and not shy away from the dark unknown corners.
I want to learn to root myself in who I was made to be and not who others want me to be.

Writing for Five Minute Friday today.