Last summer as I walked along the Camino de Santiago I was grateful for many companions. First, there were the four women with whom I was walking. Each day we paired off based on our pace and our souls. Many times I chose to walk behind in solitude. Yet, I was thankful after several hours of silence that someone was there to walk together again. Then new companions crossed my path each day, most for only a few minutes or an hour. There was one woman we ran into four or more times over our week-long pilgrimage who … [Read more...] about Encouraging One Another
The Work of Our Hands
In our way along the scholar’s journey, there often isn’t much time to stop and consider how the work of our hands is sacred. The writing of our theses. The questions we ask in research. The pedagogy we follow in our classrooms. Yet, all of these elements of our work are part of God’s world and God invites us to see them through his eyes. So, what does it mean for the Lord to establish the work of our hands as we hear the psalmist pray in Psalm 90? Especially when that work is scholarship? Last year I began to … [Read more...] about The Work of Our Hands
Sacred Work of Scholarship
How do you see your work as sacred? As set apart for God’s purposes? Over the coming months, I want to explore what it might mean to see the work of scholarship, teaching, and service as sacred - the ways in which we engage in this work as well as the content itself. One of the first steps on this journey is to see ourselves and our work as part of God’s sacred story revealing God’s truth, goodness, and beauty. Perhaps Paul’s image of Jesus shared with the Colossians helps you to see your work as part of this … [Read more...] about Sacred Work of Scholarship
The Gift of Waiting
We are in a time of waiting in the church year. During Advent, we remember Israel’s waiting for a messiah and Mary’s waiting for the birth of Jesus. We also wait in hope for Christ's future return. I look forward to this season not only for its theological significance but also because waiting is a fundamental part of life. Waiting for the end of the semester. Waiting to hear about an article or book’s publication. Waiting for a job offer. Waiting to hear a diagnosis. Waiting for an upcoming … [Read more...] about The Gift of Waiting
What’s Your Story?
What story is driving your life today on this scholar’s journey? As humans, we are wired to make meaning and understand the world through narratives that connect the events, people, beliefs, and places in our lives. Neurobiology and neuropsychology confirm the physical reality of what we have known to be true. We are always living in and creating stories, whether we are aware of them or not. To know who we are as individuals and communities, we must know what story we are part of. Whether you are a graduate … [Read more...] about What’s Your Story?