Beauty Break
Curtis Loew
My idea of power has been radically transformed over the last several years, in large part because of Diane Langberg’s work. Her book Redeeming Power is partially a critique of the misuse of power in evangelical spaces, and a call back to its intended purpose. I recently listened to Andy Crouch speak about power in…
Read MoreHighlights from the Emerald Isle
I can’t possibly make a post that would adequately describe or show our experience in Ireland – but I can give you the highlights. From beginning to end, the trip exceeded our expectations. We did not plan this trip alone. My friend, Mariyana at YOLO Dream Adventures, helped make this a dream trip. She’s already helping me…
Read MoreFirst-Evers
Something special happens on the trail. Maybe it’s because we’re away from our regular lives and it’s easier to connect. Maybe the walls come down quicker. I don’t know a better way to explain it than to say that good friends are made on the trails. Every single backpacking trip I’ve been on has been…
Read MoreBeautiful Work
My Beauty Breaks typically include a photo of something I saw on the trails or caught my eye outside. This one is about the beautiful work others are doing. Their work brings hope, healing, and creates space for deep connection with those different from us. And that is one of the most beautiful places we…
Read MoreIt Is Well
I went back to the Emigrant Wilderness for a 6 night/7day backpacking trip. It was like I’d never been there before. Of course, I remembered some of the trails and the lakes. They’re unforgettable. What I mean is that I was in awe every day. That kind of majestic beauty is not something one could…
Read MoreStill Waters
When my friend, Monica Yother, built this site, each element of it, the way the homepage was laid out, the font and colors, and the photos she used, meant something to me. They still do. One of my favorites was the footer photo which she called living waters. The photo was a body of water…
Read MoreThe Stones Cry Out
Last week, when I told my Zoom friends I was backpacking over the weekend, one of them asked if I’d heard of forest bathing. She was surprised I hadn’t. But I’ve been forest bathing since I was a girl. According to an article in Time by Dr. Qing Li, trees can help us be healthier…
Read MoreResilient
It’s called the grape of the south for good reason. Muscadine is the only grape variety that can grow in the hot and humid climate of the southern United States. Four years ago I wrote about the muscadine vine Daddy planted taking over a nearby pear tree. Since then, we’ve had to cut the vines…
Read MoreBroken
Every year we go to the beach to gather with friends and family. One of our favorite things is to look for shells. The shells that catch my eye are the broken pieces, like these. The ones broken so long and tumbled around in the ocean so much that their edges are smoothed out and…
Read MoreThe Wilderness
My trip in the wilderness was…….well I’ll let the pictures speak for themselves. There’s something about being surrounded by grandeur, and walking among the majesty….the tangible displays of the invisible attributes of God (Romans 1:20). There’s something about hearing the rolling thunder in the mountains, getting caught in a hailstorm, and being with others who…
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