“They are not problems to be fixed, but mysteries to be honored and revered.” This quote about people continues to resound in my head from Eugene Peterson’s The Pastor: A Memoir. Throughout my years coaching leaders and supporting organizations through change, I have encountered so many people who wanted me to “come in and fix … Continue reading The Work of Moving Forward Together: From Change and Grief to Connection, Alignment, and Mission
Together We Flourish
I've been thinking a lot lately about the Church as we experience our Journey in Faith together in the Archdiocese Dubuque, and as I step more fully into my role as Director of Leadership Formation. Not the Church as a building. Not the Church as an institution. Not even the Church as the collection of … Continue reading Together We Flourish
The Sacred Journey of Becoming
I have redefined myself: courageous, strong, compassionate, generous, capable, calm, open. I have been reborn. Becoming more fully who I am. Renewed. Restored. Remembering parts of myself long ago forgotten. Yet I feel restricted by these new labels. More than before. More whole than I've known. And there is more. I have felt the sacredness … Continue reading The Sacred Journey of Becoming
Held
You have always been herewaiting to be heard. But I ignored you. You wanted too much,needed too much.You were too powerful. Asking for thingsI was scared to giveor didn't know how. Asking of me things I didn't believe I could do. Wasn't worthy of. So you waited. You signaled.You called. You begged.Sometimes, you screamed. But … Continue reading Held
Whose Image Am I Reflecting?
"It feels like I have shed the things that have allowed me to become more fully who I am." This is what I shared with my coach recently as we reflected on the many transitions of the past year. I transitioned the business I founded to my partner. I stepped into an opportunity that feels … Continue reading Whose Image Am I Reflecting?
Remnants of You
Meanwhile, the world moves on. The sun rises. We scurry about. Work get done. Ball games get played. Meals are made and shared. The small joys and sorrows of life are present. But you are not. And in that I am not sure how to feel. Grateful to know there is no more suffering. I … Continue reading Remnants of You
The Freedom of Not Knowing
Here I am, finding my feet again. Sometimes I wonder: Is it me that no longer fits in the world I've created? Or has the world changed so much that I no longer feel at home in it? Either way, I've found myself struggling to know where I fit or where I belong. This isn't … Continue reading The Freedom of Not Knowing
There Is Only We
Their smiles. The dancing. The sweaty, dirt-covered high fives. Praying together. The hugs. This is what I will remember most from our recent trip to the Dominican Republic to visit our twin parish. We called it a mission trip, but those words just don't feel quite right.Mission implies something to accomplish. What we experienced was … Continue reading There Is Only We
And She’s Off to the Next Adventure: A Letter To Our Dear Elisabeth
Elisabeth, We are blessed to have had you as part of our family these past few months. It wasn't always easy or comfortable, but that's how we know it was deep, meaningful, and true. It was love...it is love. You said it best in the note you left us: "Being deeply loved by someone gives … Continue reading And She’s Off to the Next Adventure: A Letter To Our Dear Elisabeth
Encountering the Sacred Heart of Jesus
I stared at the faces of those who died. I listened to stories about who they were and the lives they lived from those who loved them most. I watched survivors share their experiences and the ways they served in the aftermath — the courage, the strength, the ongoing battles they still carry. It was … Continue reading Encountering the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Grit, Gratitude, and Grace 