Reflections and Responses

Olivia is terrified of the vacuum cleaner. She quivers when I bring it out of the closet. Her eyes enlarge, filled with terror, and she makes a pant-like sound that I only hear her make in response to the vacuum and (occasionally) strangers. (I am determined that her fear of the vacuum is not related to "stranger danger" - I'm choosing to feel confident in my housekeeping abilities and believe that her fear does not stem from unfamiliarity with the vacuum cleaner - ha.) She's also learning how to walk. It's been fascinating to watch this infant gradually develop the muscle and motor skills that will enable her to run across a yard one day. Eleven months ago, she couldn't even hold up her own head, much less walk. Our tiny house makes a circle, and she loves walking the same circular route through it multiple times a day, holding my hands. As Liv and I made our first round for the day through the house this morning, she found herself face to face with the l

I'm in the process of transitioning off of staff at Passion City Church and Passion Conferences. I joined the team on August 23, 2010. I've spent 4.5 (stunningly) beautiful, stretching, awe-inspiring, humbling years of my life serving Jesus with some incredibly talented people who love Him. Together, we were able to be a part of things dreams are made of and see some things that I think I will still be processing years from now. I made this decision a while ago, but the transition won't be finalized until the end of this month. Last weekend while serving at Passion 2015, I couldn't sleep. It was crazy - I had been awake too many hours to count, and my alarm was going off in too few hours to count, but I was wide awake. I felt a nudge from the Holy Spirit to turn on my lamp and make a list in my journal of all of the lessons I've learned while working there - spiritual lessons, professional lessons, and just life lessons - the stuff that comes with maturing. I