This post was hard for me to write.

I told myself it was because we’ve been transitioning from our home of almost 14 years, Atlanta, to the Oregon Coast.

But I think that is only a half-truth.

I’m sure the physical transition is partly responsible for these feelings of difficulty, but there is more. I think I hold a secret (and rather ego-centric) hope that I will have some brilliant wisdom with each new life transition. I think this is partly because, on the cusp of any big life change, I feel like once I get there (wherever “there” is), I will have “arrived.” But I know better. And I think many of you have experienced this too.

We think the journey will make us more valuable. Give us something important to say. And maybe it does.

But every time I experience some noteworthy life change, I find myself holding to the same simple truth, which is this:

The daily, slow, nobody-knows moments build a life worth living.

The creativity done in private builds in us a quiet hope that our creativity out-loud matters.

I have been privileged to get to know many of you.

You have become close, personal friends through my Memoir-In-Progress Course, Artist’s Way Groups, Alumni Group, 1:1 Coaching, and Creative Unblocking Seminars.

I count it a gift to be able to do work that turns acquaintances into life-long co-journeyers.

And because I know many of you personally, I have had the privilege of getting to know your stories.

You are spiritual sojourners.

You are survivors.

You know what it’s like to have “arrived” somewhere new and still be on the same journey.

The journey of healing.

The journey of creating.

The journey of belonging to yourself and God.

You know what it’s like to arrive somewhere and still be you.

You with your passions, quirks, triggers, joys, wisdom, and connection.

I am grateful to you. I am grateful that you are here.

I count it as joy to bear witness to your journey and joy that you would bear witness to mine.

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Here are some visual glimpses into our new life, as well as some reflections that have come to me on this journey “home” to the Central Coast of Oregon, where I am still me and still moving, growing, learning, creating, and healing, both in private, and sometimes, in the deep joy of our Monastic Mamas community.

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Our first adventure on the beach turned up tons of crab shells. If you are an Atlanta friend, one of these may show up in your mailbox.

The view from our living room. The trees in the Pacific Northwest have my heart.

Doug the Dog just before I let him off leash, and he gave us a near heart attack by going too far into the Pacific.

Cali the Cat sitting next to one of my favorite second-hand finds, reminding me to take each day as it comes.

More bobbles from the beach because crab legs and shells are a 6-year-old’s treasure.

After a year of full-time travel with this crew in 2021, we’ve gotten pretty good at road shenanigans. Our drive to Oregon wasn’t without some bumps, but we made the best of it.

Theological Musings: The Desert

I have been feeling called lately to go back and read through some of the Biblical accounts of Jesus with slow intention, looking at the stories as if for the first time and without the overlay of years of sermons and other people’s insight. (To be clear, I am not against other people’s insight. I am so grateful for the scholars and teachers from whom I have had the chance to learn. But I’m on a more contemplative journey now and learning to trust it.)

If I wanted to be honest, I would tell you that I haven’t cracked a Bible in almost two years. After a particularly difficult season that began at the end of 2020, I had a block. “The Artist’s Way” became a modality for God to speak to me. My creativity and creative community also were safe spaces. But every time I tried to open the Bible, I felt what I often describe as “ick” when talking to my Spiritual Director about my faith journey. There was a film that I had to take some time to remove.

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The week after we moved into our new, I found myself ready to try again, and I turned to a story in Luke where the Spirit of God leads Jesus. It’s important to note that the Spirit of God leads Jesus here because, in a few short verses, the spirit of the “tempter” will do some leading as well. The Spirit of God leads Jesus to the desert, where he stays for 40 days.

I’ve always overlooked the importance of where God’s Spirit leads Jesus.

The desert?

So what?

I’m from California. I know the desert. It’s hot and dry and uncomfortable. Meh.

But this time, I read it differently.

The desert. No coffee shops or fast food. No friends. No diversions. No entertainment. No social media. No distractions.

Just Jesus, alone with himself and God.

Now comes the juxtaposition I had never noticed before.

After this 40-day stint in the desert, Jesus is taken by the “tempter” to two places:

1) the top of a mountain where he can see all the kingdoms, riches, diversions, and power of the world and

2) the top of the Temple, the seat of all the power, money, and authority at the center of his people’s faith tradition.

Whatever you believe about Jesus or the Bible, I hope you can draw something helpful from this juxtaposition in the text.

God led Jesus to a place of surrender, where the only focus was self and God. The “tempter” led Jesus to a place full of distraction, diversion, play, and power.

Many of you, like myself, have felt you’ve been led into the desert these last few years.

A relentless place that hasn’t allowed you to hide from yourself anymore.

A place where all the distractions that soothed you for so long no longer do the job but rather bring a numbness you can’t stand anymore.

The desert is a wilderness.

But it’s also a place where you are invited into a deep relationship with a truth bigger than any diversion can offer.

Whatever desert you are walking into, out of, or through in this season, I pray that the joy of sisterhood, creativity, and the engulfing presence of the Divine will accompany you.

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There are no distractions in the desert. There is only you and God. And that is, ultimately, a good thing.

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This Month’s Creative Spiritual Exercise

This month’s “Artist’s Way Alumni Group” went back to the basics, and I’m excited to share the exercise we did with you.

If you’ve ever journeyed through the 12 weeks of The Artists Way, you know that each week represents a different block and element of ourselves that we are working to recover.

Some of the women in my Alumni Group have journeyed through The Artist’s Way as recently as a month ago. Others went through the group almost two years ago. This month, I wanted to give us a check in to see how we are doing with each of the recovery areas. Whether or not you’ve been through The Artist’s Way journey, you can join us in this check-in process to see how you feel in each area.

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Recovering a sense of …

Safety

Identity

Power

Integrity

Possibility

Abundance

Connection

Strength

Compassion

Self-Protection

Autonomy

Faith

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1) For each of these areas, write down a quick definition. If you’ve gone through The Artist’s Way, you may be able to draw from your work with that journey to define each of the above ideas.

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2) Now, rate yourself on how you are doing in each area on a scale of 1-10.

For example, if you defined “safety” as having a safe community, how are you doing with cultivating that community and leaning in? Maybe a “one” means you haven’t reached out to your safe people in a long time, and a “ten” means you have regularly scheduled meet-ups on your calendar.

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Once you’ve defined and rated yourself in each category, look at your lowest and highest ratings. Write a quick note of gratitude for the area you’ve rated the highest. Thank yourself for taking the time and putting the energy towards this area. Next, look at the lowest rated and brainstorm/write down a few tangible ways to take better care of yourself in this area.

In our group, this simple exercise helped us see where we can celebrate and where we can lean in a bit more.

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A Reminder

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Community is where we heal.

If you want a safe space to walk through a particular season, I will offer my next 14-week Artist’s Way group this Fall.

These groups are a chance to explore all of the above ideas as they tie into our creativity, God concept, self-perception, family systems, and so much more in a safe group of women.