1 month countdown

In one month I will begin my renewal leave. I'm so thankful for the Lilly Endowment and that White Rock UMC was one of 233 congregations selected nationwide and the only United Methodist Church in Texas that was chosen for its National Clergy Renewal Program. 

I can't quite wrap my head around the idea that I won't be living and breathing church for four months beginning May 1. The theme for the grant proposal was Joy as the Heartbeat of Renewal. I'll return to Japan with my family where I first felt my call to ministry. White Rock UMC will have an evening with an improv group, a snow cone truck visit after church, and a magician's show with a catered dinner. 

I'm looking forward to rediscovering renewal through rest, relationships, and sacred places. 

Now the countdown begins. One month to finish the "binder of all the things" for Margo. Margo is the gift from God who will handle all day-to-day pastoral duties. One month to make all the pastoral visits and try to cross some things off the to-do list. Before I know it the month will have passed. 

Deep breaths...

Journaling

 I recently began writing in a 5-year journal.  There are just a few lines for each day and there are five lined sections with the same date across five years. I was drawn to journaling again because I don't have to write much and I liked the idea that I could look back and see what I was worrying about in previous years.  I have been consistent in writing each day which is unique for me. I hope its layout will help me build a sustainable daily journal practice. It takes 21 days to make something a habit, so hopefully I am creating habits that I will continue. Some days I write about good things that have happened, some days I write about what I am worrying about, some days I write about what I am grateful for. 

Today I wrote about holding a baby. What a gift.

Lent in 2026

I have never been good at giving things up for Lent.  I remember one year the Disciple Bible Study I was leading decided for Lent to fast and not eat Monday dinner which we would normally eat right before the Study.  I was always so hungry and I would come home and immediately eat food.  I don't remember thinking about Jesus when I was not eating dinner.  For the last few years when I was asked what I was going to give up for Lent I would say I was just trying to survive Lent.  This year I saw another pastor post on Instagram that they would see everyone in six weeks.  I had tried to give up social media before but I didn't really do anything to restrict my access. 

On Ash Wednesday this year I decided to delete Facebook, Instagram, and Messenger from my phone.  Then, I went to my computer and blocked Facebook and Instagram. There were at least ten times the rest of Ash Wednesday that I typed Facebook into my internet browser on my computer and looked to my phone thinking I would scroll Instagram.  I feel like I'm going to definitely think more about Jesus this Lent!  

In the past I have blogged once a week during Lent to get back to writing.  I've decided to rebrand this blog and catalog my adventures that I previously might have recorded on Facebook or Instagram. 

The biking trail quest in the Dallas area

Our son's first year of Boy Scouts they do a 50 mile bike ride. We started training with him and fell in love with biking. Now, it is usually a "mom and dad are going biking" event, but the biking trail quest is ongoing. 

Here are my requirements for a good biking trail:

1. paved

2. able to do 12-20 miles 

3. not too many hazards like cars, streets to cross, people, crazy fast cyclists

4. shaded is a bonus

Top Dallas trails:

1. AT&T Trail, Trinity Forest Trail - 8 miles one way

Park at 5850 Elam Rd. 8 mile trail through share, the Trinity River Audubon & Little Lemmon Lake. Get to the end of the trail, turn around, and ride back for 16 miles.

2. White Rock Creek Trail - as long as you want!

This trail goes all the way down to White Rock Lake.  I love the northern section of this trail. From our house we get on near Orbiter Park. I love riding behind the Greek Orthodox Church and going over the wooden bridges. At the end, the trail makes a circle and then you head south, all the way to White Rock Lake if you feel so inclined!

3. SoPAC Trail - 5.5 miles one way

This is my favorite trail from White Rock Lake north back to my house. You have to go on the grass after the Royal Oaks Country Club to get back on the White Rock Creek Trail, but the trail is so wide, shaded, and wonderful, it is worth it.

4. Santa Fe Trail - 4.7 miles one way

Park at the White Rock Lake spillway parking lot, go around the lake (9.2 miles), and then go on the Santa Fe Trail into Deep Ellum.

5. Preston Ridge Trail - 6.3 miles one way

Park on Spring Valley at the Coit intersection. You can go all the way to the George Bush. I don't like the street crossings, and there isn't any shade but this is an enjoyable trail.

6. Northaven Trail - 7.8 miles one way

Park at 10803 Freda Stern Dr.  I don't like the street crossings, and there isn't any shade but this is an enjoyable trail. It is fun to go behind Northaven UMC.

7. University Crossing Trail - as long as you want

Park at Ridgewood Park Recreation Center and head west. The bridge over Mockingbird is really fun. If you can go on a  workday when the Katy Trail might not be jam-packed with people, you can ride into downtown.

Staying still

It has been windy lately, and when it is windy I am reminded of my year teaching English in Japan.  I would ride my bicycle to the different junior high schools where I taught English, and in March and April it was so windy that I would be riding my bicycle and I would not be going anywhere because the winds were so strong.  I would be pedaling and pedaling, but not moving forward.  I am reminded of that experience often, especially during the time of Lent.  

We may have taken on a spiritual discipline in Lent or given something up in Lent. We wanted to do something to remember Jesus and to grow closer to God. For some folks, they feel like they have been doing their spiritual discipline or denying themselves something they enjoy, and they haven’t felt any difference in their spiritual life.  Or other people have eaten the chocolate that they were going to give up during Lent or they have stopped their spiritual discipline as life got busy and they have not been reading their Bible every day.  How often do we feel like we are pedaling and pedaling, but we are not moving forward?  When I get to that place of frustration, I remind myself to be still and to know that God is God (Psalm 46:10).  I am forgiven, and I can try again.  I am loved by God, and I can use the frustration that I feel to breathe in God’s grace and to know that God loves me.  

Staying still is not a bad thing.  Staying still can actually be a good thing.  When I stay still, I can feel God's Holy Spirit moving all around me. When I stay still, I stop and I listen.  When I stay still, I focus on being instead of doing. When I stay still, I breathe in God's peace and strength and love.  

#ThisLittleLightOfMine

The journey

Last Wednesday I was not able to blog my weekly Lenten post because I was in Seattle with my family for Spring Break.  The wonderful thing about traveling together with your family is that you are stuck together.  If someone is grumpy, you have to figure out what to do.  How do you give them space?  How do you help? 

When I think about the best part about our time away, it wasn't the sights that we saw, the food that we ate, or the cousins we connected with (though that was a highlight).  The best part about our time away was the 24 hours a day that we were together.  There were no work or school obligations, no sports team practices, and no places to be.  We were able to spend time with each other, laughing, telling stories, being ourselves, and loving each other.  

One day we went whale watching.  We did have to set alarm clocks that day because we had to drive about an hour north to get to the boat.  The boat was going fast to try to find the gray whales.  The day before they had seen two gray whales, and the boat captain was talking to other whale watching boats trying to spot some whales but they could not find them.  I was disappointed.  This was supposed to be memorable and we had not seen anything. But the kids loved it.  They talked for days afterward about how fun the boat ride had been.  I had seen the trip as a flop because the goal had not been reached - we didn't see any whales!  But, the kids had focused on the process, they had focused on the journey and they had enjoyed it.  

So often in my life I have focused only on the end goal, and I have not enjoyed the journey.  As I let my light shine and follow my heart, my calling, and try to be or become who I am meant to be, I have to focus on the journey instead of only focusing on the end goal. My kids helped me to remember that to show love, forgiveness, kindness, and to be more like Jesus, I have to focus on the journey.  So often the disciples were frustrated with Jesus because he was talking to too many people, and he wasn't doing what they wanted him to do.  He was enjoying the journey. If they got to their destination, great, but Jesus was going to enjoy each step of the way.  

Traveling with my 12 and 9 year old children this week helped me remember also that time is precious and that before I know it, they will be all grown up.  I want to enjoy the boat ride.   

#ThisLittleLightOfMine

Learn from others

This weekend was busy -  Confirmation/Youth overnight retreat, church, lacrosse game, and my mom and stepdad in town. By the time Sunday night came, I was tired. But, I got in the car and drove up to the church because Sunday nights at 5 p.m. during Lent we are having At the Table and In Conversation at Greenland Hills UMC.  I didn't want to miss our first night as we talked about our belief in God.  Yes, there were other places I could have been. Yes, there were other places that I wanted to be (the couch). But, I felt called to be at the church, sharing and learning with folks.  I am so glad that I went. We drew our image for God, and I was so blessed by what other folks drew. A tree, a sun, birds flying, and I drew a lap.  When I imagine God I see a lap that I can crawl into where I feel safe and warm, loved and protected.  I was so blessed by hearing how others view God. When other people share why they believe, it helps me to remember why I believe.

A few years ago I felt overwhelmed but I knew that once a particular project was completed, life would get back to normal.  But, after that project there was another project.  And throw in kid sport seasons, and it feels like there is no time to simply sit and be.  Sunday night gathered around tables with people from the church that I love, that challenge me, that make me better, I tried to simply sit and be and listen and learn from others.

During Lent I am blogging on Wednesdays and writing about following my heart, my calling, being or becoming who I am meant to be, who God created me to be, who I was put on this earth to be (thanks to Tesa Golden from Greenland Hills UMC for her original Facebook post about this).   So, as I think this Lent about honoring the sacrifices of Jesus, I want to show love, forgiveness, kindness, and be more like Jesus.  As Tesa said, "I want to SEE others and have them SEE me by letting my light shine."

In order for me to see others and have them see me, I have to show up.  I have to listen and learn from other people.  I saw a TED talk this week that has continued to rattle around in my brain.  It is Megan Phelps Roper sharing about growing up in the Westboro Baptist Church.  She talks about how we have to talk and listen to people we disagree with.  Here are her takeaways: 1. Don't assume bad intent.  2. Ask questions. 3. Stay calm. 4. Make the argument.

Shining my light today means that I am blessed to learn from others.  #ThisLittleLightOfMine

http://www.ted.com/talks/megan_phelps_roper_i_grew_up_in_the_westboro_baptist_church_here_s_why_i_left?utm_source=newsletter_daily&utm_campaign=daily&utm_medium=email&utm_content=button__2017-03-06