remind{h}er podcast

There is much in our world and in our lives that can feel like damaged goods—broken hearts, broken people, broken relationships, systems, and communities. And amid those broken realities, it can be easy to lose hope. That is our tendency. I'm learning, though, that our tendency is not always how God prefers to work. What if, in God's hands and through God's love, we are never beyond repair?  If brokenness feels up close and personal right now, I hope you'll listen in. Sign up for The Re{collection} HERE The Repair Shop Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright www.withjulianne.com 

Today, I am offering a simple reading of a familiar passage. It's a passage often read at weddings; but at its core, it's really a reminder of what matters most, in the middle of it all. I find I need to be reminded of what matters most over and over again these days. Maybe you can relate?  There is also some space toward the end for you to consider several reflection questions. Feel free to pause, rewind, replay—whatever you need to do as you engage this passage. As always, I hope it serves you well! Listen in :) Book a spiritual direction session Sign up for The Re{collection} Work with me as a speaker or workshop facilitator www.withjulianne.com 

Alright, friends, today we are finally marking five years of the remind{h}er podcast. On April 1, 2020, the very first episode released into the world, and even though it's a few weeks late, I'm excited to celebrate with you today. Several weeks ago, I began to collect some of your questions for this very episode and now, I'll share my responses. I'm so grateful to those who contributed questions and to each of you who continue to listen in all these years later. What a gift. We have five questions to celebrate five years. Listen in! What is your favorite and least favorite part of hosting the podcast? If you could own a house in three cities in America, with money not being an object, where would you choose? What book do you find yourself going back to again and again? What are your thoughts about church family? In my experience, church should feel like family. But my new and current church really only feels like a place of worship with opportunities to serve and do ministry. Is that okay? What do you think contributes to living a flourishing life?   In the Name of Jesus by Henri Nouwen Soulful Spirituality by David Benner Surprised by Hope by N.T. Wright The Book of Forgiving by Desmond and Mpho Tutu Spiritual Theology by Simon Chan remind{h}er 73: A Faith That Flows   www.withjulianne.com 

If you are listening in real time, next week is Holy Week, a week when we remember, observe, and follow Jesus' journey to the cross before we celebrate the good news of Easter. With that in mind, today, I'd like to offer a simple reading from the gospel of Matthew, from one of the many passages that gives us a glimpse into Jesus' experience in the last days of his pre-resurrection ministry. After reading it through, I'll offer just a few questions for your consideration, as you explore how God's Spirit might be speaking to you through these holy words today. Feel free to pause, to rewind, to experience this passage in whatever way you need in the coming days. As always, I hope it serves you well :) www.withjulianne.com 

In her book, You Could Make This Place Beautiful, author and poet Maggie Smith writes, “How I picture it: We are all nesting dolls, carrying the earlier iterations of ourselves inside. We carry the past inside us. We take ourselves—all of our selves—wherever we go.”  That's how I'm learning to picture it, too.  From the tiniest, earliest version of me, all the way to the person I am today, and even beyond to the person still to come, I'm finding each iteration belongs. Each iteration is connected. And each iteration matters.  So here's how I see it: in order to be who we are, we need to remember who we've been. What might that look like? Listen in.  Contribute a question to our Five Year Q+A episode HERE Sign up to receive my monthly letter, The Re{collection} Interested in spiritual direction? Find out more HERE www.withjulianne.com 

A reset can be helpful in lots of different circumstances, and a reset can look lots of different ways. For some of us, it looks like tidying up a living space or cleaning out a closet. Sometimes it looks like returning to a familiar routine or a ritual we know well. Sometimes it looks like an apology or like offering forgiveness. Sometimes it looks like breathing in some fresh air or getting a good night's sleep.  Today, though, I want to extend an invitation to reset in a very simple, particular way, in a way that has been helpful and grounding in my own life recently. And in a world that continues to swirl, I wonder if it could be a helpful way for you to reset, too.  Listen in. Submit a question HERE for our upcoming Q+A episode celebrating FIVE years of the remind{h}er podcast! Emily P. Freeman Interested in giving spiritual direction a try? Connect with me HERE! www.withjulianne.com   

When there is work to do, ground to cover, progress to make, we tend to want to get moving as quickly and efficiently and significantly as possible. We are bound and determined to make it happen, whatever “it” might be. And while we might begin with good intentions, it usually doesn't take long before we run ourselves ragged. We quickly grow exhausted, and end up leading with bitterness, cynicism, anxiety, and fear. It's so easy to get ahead of ourselves. To get ahead of our souls. Could there be a more sustainable way? There is work to do. And as followers of Jesus, I'm learning the way we approach it matters. What might this look like? Listen in. The Office Season 4 Episode 1: Fun Run remind{h}er 128: Keep Going {Take Breaks} Soul Keeping by John Ortberg Shannan Martin www.withjulianne.com  

So often, at least in my experience, we cling so tightly to our plans, agendas, timelines, strategies, and deadlines. We easily become hyper-focused on a desired outcome. Anxiety, pressure, and bitterness creep in. And we begin to forget and overlook the movement and presence of God in our midst. We clench our fists and white-knuckle through, totally unaware of how God might be leading or what God might be up to. It's been my experience over and over and over again, all throughout my life. And it is exhausting. Maybe you can relate? One thing that has been helpful for me in this is what I call a spiritual practice of surprise. I've been trying it on for size for a couple years now, and it continues to be a practice that cultivates a lightness, a gentleness, a freedom, and a flexibility within me. It's led to an openness and a trust that isn't always easy, but that has been incredibly life-giving. What does it look like? Listen in. Gentle Me, Holy One by Ted Loder Sign up for the Re{collection} Learn more about spiritual direction www.withjulianne.com

I don't know for sure about you, but if my read on our current reality is even a little bit accurate, I imagine we could all use a collective deep breath right now. And so today, as we've done here on the podcast several times before, I thought it might be best to offer a simple reading from Scripture {Romans 12:9-21 NRSV}, reminding us of what is ours to do as followers of Jesus. I'll also offer a few reflection questions and a little bit of space for silence toward the end. Whether you are feeling encouraged or discouraged, at peace or on edge, hopeful or despairing, I hope these words and these questions serve you well. Sign up for The Re{collection} Interested in spiritual direction? Find out more here www.withjulianne.com 

How do we keep going when life and faith and work are so hard and heavy? I'm learning that sometimes, the brave decision to keep going might actually look like taking a break. Like opening ourselves to God's kindness and compassion when we need it most, honoring our capacity, our limits, and the current reality of our lives. It might look like taking the time to take good care so that, eventually, with God's help, we might be enabled to continue and take another step.  As author and therapist Aundi Kolber advises: “Keep going, but take breaks.” That's what we're exploring today on the podcast. I hope you'll listen in :) Related remind{h}ers:  remind{h}er 08: Press Pause remind{h}er 15: You Are a Limited Edition remind{h}er 45: Keep Showing Up remind{h}er 57: You Are Not a Machine   www.withjulianne.com 

As we begin a new year, let's look both ways. Not left and right, east and west. But backward and forward. Ahead and behind. Both are important. And I'm learning that if we only focus our attention and energy in one particular direction, we're missing out. It's incomplete. If the goal is to be whole, we would do well to look both ways and engage the wisdom of both reflection and intention. Looking back. Looking forward. Hoping for what's ahead. Remembering what's behind. So, what might this look like? Listen in. Fleming Rutledge Sign up to receive The Re{collection} HERE Book a spiritual direction session with me HERE www.withjulianne.com 

There is so much going on in our world that is heavy and hard. And it can be difficult to know how to approach it all, address it all, hold it all. It's all so very overwhelming. If we want to be a part of the healing work of the Kingdom of God, where do we even begin? As I've continued to work out my faith with God over the years, I've realized the big impact is not always mine to make. Instead, what is nearly always mine to do is to be a steady influence in my regular, everyday life. In the small, the subtle, the obscure, the quiet. Even when it doesn't seem to matter.  Because it's true that you have to start somewhere. And it's true that the work we're called to tends to start small. So what might that look like? Listen in. “You don't have to do great things, but the little things you are doing in your sphere of influence can be done with great conviction, great wisdom, great beauty, and great love.”  —Ruth Krehbiel Jacobs Small Kindnesses by Danusha Lameris Sign up for The Re{collection} Book a spiritual direction session www.withjulianne.com 

In the context of life and faith, it can be easy to lose sight of the main thing. It can be easy to live distracted, disordered, disoriented. Like you hear over and over again on this podcast—it can be easy to forget. To get turned around. To slowly shift our focus away from the center.  And yet, as we navigate the twists and turns, the ups and downs, of our day-to-day lives, I'm learning that keeping the center in mind is key. So what might that look like? That's what we're exploring today. Listen in :) Renewing the Christian Mind by Dallas Willard Ready to explore spiritual direction? Book an initial session HERE! Sign up for my monthly letter, The Re{collection} www.withjulianne.com 

Acknowledging and accepting our actual, lived-in lives and experience is often much easier said than done. It's like our if-only's become our what-should-be's—how we should feel, what we should do, the type of response we should have—and when our reality doesn't match that ideal, well, we turn to filters and facades, forcing ourselves into molds that don't actually fit. And living that way is exhausting. Perhaps you know the feeling? Well, one of the greatest gifts I have received through the work and ministry of spiritual direction is compassionate permission to welcome what is and not what I think should be. To honor the full spectrum of my experience, whether I like it or not. Whether I hope it will change or not.  I'm learning that a practice of welcome means a practice of being honest before God, trusting that God is present and at work in our actual experience, and that through such a welcome, God can and will engage the sacred work of transformation.  Today, I hope you'll listen in and join me as, together, we welcome what is. Dr. Larry Crabb Soulful Spirituality by David Benner Rumi's The Guest House The Gift of Being Yourself by David Benner Father Thomas Keating Sign up HERE for The Re{collection} www.withjulianne.com 

In today's episode, we're considering what it means to practice courage. Sometimes courage can look like a big, grand gesture, a response to literal life-or-death threats and danger. That kind of courage is admirable and worth aspiring to. And I'm also learning that sometimes the practice of courage is small and subtle, but no less significant. Today, if you're experiencing fear in some way, shape, or form, this episode is for you. Listen in. www.withjulianne.com Book a spiritual direction session HERE Sign up for The Re{collection} HERE

In today's episode, we're exploring what it might mean for us to "wake up" to our lives. To be more attentive to and aware of God's movement and promptings around and within. To expect the unexpected in regular, ordinary days. To trust and believe God is with us and at work right where we are, even when conditions and circumstances say otherwise. To embody a deep presence and attention. To live a full, abundant life. This is a life Jesus knew well. And as we see time and time again throughout the gospels, this is the life Jesus came to offer. So what it might it look like, on a practical level, to live abundantly? To be a person in whom “life has made a home?” Fully attentive and awake to God with and within you? If life feels like a blur, listen in. 1995 Film Balto Balto Story Chuck DeGroat remind{h}er 54: Sleep On It Kindling Desire for God by Kay Northcutt Liturgies for Wholeness by Audrey Elledge + Elizabeth Moore CLICK HERE to book a spiritual direction session www.withjulianne.com 

As I've worked toward becoming a spiritual director myself the past couple years, a question I am asked often is, what is spiritual direction? And it's a great question! If you had told me four years ago that in four years, I would be a spiritual director, my response would have been something like, “Excellent. What is that?” Well, I've learned and experienced so much the past four years, and I'm thrilled to be able to explore that question with you today. In this episode, we cover the following questions: What is spiritual direction? What is the role of a spiritual director? Who is spiritual direction for? What might a session be like? To learn more and/or book an initial spiritual direction session with me, CLICK HERE Providence Canyon State Park The Contemplative Pastor by Eugene Peterson The Cultivated Life by Susan Phillips Coaching, Counseling, and Spiritual Direction by Tiffani Boerio What Do You Talk About in Spiritual Direction? by Renee Davis Meyer www.withjulianne.com 

As a person of faith, I tend to assume I'm expected to have this unlimited capacity to believe, to trust, to hold fast to what I know is true of God. And I assume that sort of faithfulness is supposed to be true of me always. For forever.  But I find that expectation can become a bit overwhelming. The pressure of forever doesn't always feel doable. Yes, eternity is set in our hearts {Ecclesiastes 3:11}, but what if that's true, and we doubt? What if it's true, and we waver? What if we struggle and feel uncertain along the way? One thing I'm discovering is that "forever" is lots of little "for nows." Listen in. On Being with Krista Tippett + Kate Bowler Kate Bowler Bird by Bird by Anne Lamott How to Walk into a Room by Emily P. Freeman The podcast is taking a break for the summer! We'll be back August 14. In the meantime, sign up for my monthly letter, The Re{collection} so you don't miss a thing!  www.remindherpodcast.com 

In Matthew 18, Jesus invites his disciples to become like children. Which feels so counter to what we're used to, right? We're supposed to become self-sufficient adults. We're supposed to grow up and get ahead, do it ourselves, climb all the ladders, accomplish all the things. And Jesus is saying, “No. That's not it. If that is all you're after, if that is your main priority, if that is what you think will make you great, you're missing out. Because the kingdom of God belongs to the little ones." Even though we've grown up, Jesus urges us to stay little. To not lose sight of or stop nurturing the child within. Because after all, at our core, we are beloved children of God. What might that look like? Listen in. Hook 1991 Film Sign up for The Re{collection} HERE! www.remindherpodcast.com 

It is true that taking a photo and trying to capture a moment often ends up distracting us from it. It's a reality we need to recognize, because our screens do often keep us from truly experiencing and even deeply remembering. We say a picture will last longer, but some research shows a picture only skims the surface of all our memory can hold.  In recent years, in attempt to avoid this, I pretty much gave up taking photos altogether. Because if I forget to take a photo, it must mean I'm fully present to the moment, right? Well, not always. Often I find I'm just as distracted, with or without a camera in hand. Worry, a too-full or fast-paced schedule, insecurity, discontent, or familiarity {just to name a few} can keep me from fully experiencing and appreciating my actual, right-now life.  And so, in a turn of events, I've started taking pictures again. And it is making a difference. How so? Listen in. Museum of Modern Art Starry Night by Vincent Van Gogh Boy Meets World Season 5 Episode 20 "Starry Night" How to Inhabit Time by James K.A. Smith Research: How Taking Photos Can Impair Your Memory www.remindherpodcast.com 

As we journey with God through the ups and downs, twists and turns, stops and goes of life, I'm learning that the posture we assume, matters. And I'd like to offer that we might do well to bend low. Not in a way that diminishes the fullness of who we are, but in a way that grounds us, that keeps us close to the heart of God. To the way of Jesus. To the promptings of the Spirit. Rooted deep down in our souls.  What might it look like for us to remember the way of Jesus and boldly bend low? Listen in. Arthur's Seat Old Man of Storr Sign up for The Re{collection}! www.remindherpodcast.com

Today we are celebrating FOUR years of the remind{h}er podcast! And we are doing so by engaging in a q+a conversation of sorts. I'll answer the following five questions today: How did I know I wanted to start a podcast? How did I come up with the name? Basically, what is the podcast's origin story? How do you decide what to talk about/cover in each episode? Where does your inspiration come from? Do you have a favorite episode? Is there a spiritual practice you have tried recently that you have continued? Are there any you tried that you wanted to make work but just did not work? How do you hold grief and hope at the same time? Hope seems out of reach when life is hard. Thank you to those who offered questions! Cheers to four years! I hope you'll listen in :) Liturgy of the Ordinary by Tish Harrison Warren The Cure for Sorrow by Jan Richardson | Blessing for the Brokenhearted remind{h}er 01: You Are a Reminder remind{h}er 31: Look for the Reminders remind{h}er 112: Remember We Are Dust One Line A Day Journal www.remindherpodcast.com 

With Holy Week in mind, I'm offering a simple reading of a Holy Week passage that has been particularly meaningful in my own life and faith over the years. I'll be reading from Eugene Peterson's The Message translation, and after reading it through, I'll offer just a few questions for your consideration, as you explore how God's Spirit might be speaking to you through these holy words. Feel free to pause, to rewind, to experience this passage in whatever way you need. As always, I hope it serves you well. If you'd like to submit a question to help celebrate FOUR years of the remind{h}er podcast, you can send me your question by clicking HERE. You can also email your question to remindherpodcast@gmail.com Questions can be sent through April 3, 2024. Thanks in advance for your help! www.remindherpodcast.com 

What might it look like to use our imaginations in the context of our faith? Well, with wise guardrails and discernment in place, I wonder if our experience and connection with God and with one another can be enriched through our imaginations. Maybe we can channel our imaginations for good. So what might it look like to reawaken our imagination through spiritual practice? Well, there are probably lots of possibilities, but for this particular episode, I'd like to offer two. One that could be helpful as we seek a deeper connection with God and one that might help as we seek to do good and love our neighbor well. Listen in. remind{h}er 44: Do This in Remembrance of Me John O' Donohue When the Soul Listens by Jan Johnson www.remindherpodcast.com 

I don't know about you, but typically, if I'm hoping to be hired, if I want to be noticed, if I want to be picked, if I long to be liked, I'm probably going to try to put my best self forward. I'll want you to know all I can do and what I can offer. I'll try to paint myself in a positive light. I'll showcase the strengths of who I am, and I'll make sure you know how I will add value if you choose to accept me. Maybe you can relate? But would it look like if we were to welcome our weakness? If we were to show up as our whole selves—strengths and weaknesses? How might that add value as we seek relationship with one another and with God? Listen in. The Office {TV Series} Bono www.remindherpodcast.com  

Ash Wednesday is the day the season of Lent begins. It's a season in which we are invited to think about dying and confront the straightforward reality of our humanity—our flaws and frailty and limits and imperfections. We remember and admit our need for God. We accept our mortality.  For me, it's typically a reminder I hold personally. I don't alway recognize the reality of our shared mortality. But the truth is, we are all dust. We are all fragile and limited beings, in need of God's grace, God's care, Christ's compassion. I am dust and you are dust and we are dust. And maybe Ash Wednesday can also remind us how to treat each other accordingly. Listen in. Barbie written + directed by Greta Gerwig In a Year of Death, Ash Wednesday Offers Unexpected Hope by Tish Harrison Warren {Correction: in this episode, I mistakenly share that this article was published in 2023. It was published in Christianity Today in 2021} If You Knew by Ellen Bass www.remindherpodcast.com     

How do we greet our souls? Our souls are more shy than we often realize, even for the most outgoing and extroverted among us. More often than not, they are stifled by the burden of daily demands and over-functioning schedules. There is so much noise and distraction, so much vying for our attention. We are pushed and pulled in multiple directions. We are stretched too thin. And in all of that swirling noise and chaos, our souls cower, scurry off, crumple up, and hide away in a dark, undisclosed corner, overlooked and ignored. Just like that, an integral part of who we are is completely out of sight, out of mind, forgotten. And as much as we might feel this is normal, I wonder if maybe there is a better way. What might it look like to catch a glimpse of our wild souls? To let them emerge, unfold, be welcomed softly into the light? How might we discover and live with a deeper awareness of God at work within so we might continue to serve faithfully beyond? Listen in. A Hidden Wholeness by Parker Palmer Emily P. Freeman The Henri Nouwen Society www.remindherpodcast.com 

"So, what do you do?" It's a familiar question that's often asked, and sometimes it's one we might struggle to answer. And I wonder if, at its core, we so readily ask it because we have been somewhat conditioned to believe that who we are is synonymous with what we do. One of the things I'm learning is that those two things—who we are and what we do—are certainly connected, but they are not the same. It's a distinction we often overlook, but it's a distinction that matters. Listen in. remind{h}er 43: Nothing to Prove remind{h}er 57: You Are Not a Machine www.remindherpodcast.com   

Typically, a benediction is given at the end of a worship service—after we've prayed and sung and confessed and listened to the word of God proclaimed. It's a way to seemingly seal it all up, close it all out. But what's interesting to consider is that, really, a benediction is a beginning. A blessing. A sending. A gift. It's a way to say, “As we move into what's next, this is what we hope will be true. This is who we hope we will be. And this is who we hope we will become.”  So, as we step into this new year, I'm offering a brief benediction for the brand new year. I hope you'll listen in. Grant Me Your Sense of Timing by Ted Loder from Guerillas of Grace Sign up for my monthly letter, The Re{collection} by clicking HERE. www.remindherpodcast.com 

Our words matter and, if chosen and used with wisdom and intention, I believe they can make a good difference. I'm learning that the practice of choosing words—both for the end of a year and for the beginning of another—can serve us well.  If you could choose a word to sum up your 2023, what would it be? If you could choose a word to help guide your steps into 2024, what would it be? Listen in. Word of the Year: History of the Idea | TIME Magazine remind{h}er 82: Examen Your Life www.remindherpodcast.com Don't forget to tune in next Wednesday, January 3, for a brief bonus New Year episode!      

During the Advent season, we know that the darkness is thick and hope can wear thin while we wait for the arrival we long for. We tend to quickly shift from standing at the door watching on tip-toe to turning our backs and impatiently tapping our toes. So what are we to do? What might it look like to faithfully participate in this Advent waiting? I wonder if it might begin by remembering both God-with-us and God-within-us. What does that look like? Listen in. FULL VIDEO—The 'Classic' Nativity Role Advent Sermons by Fleming Rutledge Henri Nouwen www.remindherpodcast.com We'll be back December 27!

I don't know about you, but for me, it can be difficult to reconcile how both good and heartbreaking experiences are ingredients included in the recipes that make up our lives. Surely there must be a way to eliminate what is less than ideal, to substitute certain ingredients with better, more palatable alternatives. Certainly there is an easier, turn-a-blind-eye, break-n-bake option, yes? That would be nice. But I'm learning that a life made from scratch isn't always ideal. Instead, it is real and raw and rich and nuanced and messy and beautiful. So what might it look like to live a life from scratch? Listen in. Grateful by Diana Butler Bass Sign up to receive The Re{collection}, heading your way at the end of the month! www.remindherpodcast.com 

Each day, it seems we are bombarded by a variety of "voices," numerous options of what or who to give our attention to. The loudest most blatant ones draw us in and, if you're like me, they can distract us from what is true, leading us further away from our deepest identity—the Voice who calls us beloved. This isn't an invitation to escape reality, nor to discount, dismiss, or belittle the experience of suffering. But it is an invitation to intentionally be reminded of hope, reminded of joy, reminded of compassion and justice and humility. It's an invitation to notice the beauty and to experience what it's like to be called by name and led by Love.  That's the Voice we're meant to know. And that's the Voice we're meant to follow. I hope you'll tune in :) Learn more about author and spiritual director, Jan Johnson HERE. Learn more about artist, writer, and minister Jan Richardson HERE. {It wasn't the plan, but apparently I reference two wonderful Jans!} www.remindherpodcast.com     

I can't help but notice that there seems to be a spiritual conversation happening when we spend time outside.  Anxious thoughts are met by calm reassurances. A drained spirit is strengthened, lifted, and refreshed. Fear moves toward trust. Despair turns toward hope. And we're reminded of our deepest belonging. We are met by reminders, nudges, glimmers, glimpses of who God is and who we are as a part of God's good creation. I hope you'll listen in. And I hope you'll step outside :) Practice the Pause by Caroline Oakes Episode 259—The Healing Gift of Nature {Life with God Podcast} Mary Oliver Nature, Health, + Wellbeing  www.remindherpodcast.com 

In the last remind{h}er, I referenced Psalm 136 and the refrain used 27 times in the 26 verses of the psalm. But I didn't get a chance to read all 26 verses, and today, I'd like to take a few minutes to do just that.  Sometimes I think it's worthwhile for me to simply offer words from scripture and consider what God might be inviting us into through these words crafted thousands of years ago. There is something important and meaningful about considering how God is still at work through the words of scripture today, as we seek to engage and connect with God through it. So, I hope you'll listen in and I hope Psalm 136 serves you well :) remind{h}er 103: Repeat Yourself www.remindherpodcast.com 

When life feels wobbly, repetition can be a steadying practice. Repeating something helps us recall it. We absorb what we repeat. In many ways, repetition influences who we become. And for me, that means it matters. I'm learning that when it comes to our formation, some things are worth repeating. What role might repetition play as we seek to become the people God calls and invites us to be? Listen in. James K.A. Smith Sign up for The Re{collection} HERE! Visit www.remindherpodcast.com for a transcript, speaking inquiries, or to learn more :)

As someone who loves to write, I believe grammar is important on a page. But lately I've been considering how grammar might also have something important to say as it translates into our actual lives. Maybe, choosing to use good and truer grammar on the page could be its own sort of spiritual practice for our lives—a practice that reminds us of the way of Jesus. I know it sounds a bit unconventional, but that's what we're unpacking today. I hope you'll listen in! Sin and Syntax: How to Craft Wicked Good Prose by Constance Hale www.remindherpodcast.com 

Each episode, I share that we are called to remember. But that call is an invitation, not a prerequisite; and our inevitable spiritual forgetfulness will never be a dealbreaker. Not with God. As John Swinton reminds us, it is God's memory, not our own, that is most important. In today's episode, we're exploring that a bit. I hope you'll listen in! John Swinton The Art of Presence from Everything Happens with Kate Bowler www.remindherpodcast.com 

What are you celebrating? Certainly it depends on the season, the chapter, the circumstance—there are days, weeks, months, even years when answering a question like that feels impossible. And that's okay. We don't have to bypass, rush through or gloss over what breaks our hearts. It's important to acknowledge that. But most days, most weeks, most months, most years, heartbreak isn't all there is; reality is a mixed bag. The good is there, if and when we're ready to dig in and recognize it. And I'm learning that, at its core, celebration is simply a noticing. A marking. A remembering. A spiritual practice that reminds us of the goodness of God.  We're celebrating 100 episodes, and I hope you'll listen in! Click HERE for random holidays we can celebrate each day. Don't Hesitate by Mary Oliver from Swan: Poems and Prose Poems Visit www.remindherpodcast.com for transcripts, The Re{collection}, and more!   Cover art by Gabriela Denton 

Whether it's flipping a house or meeting a goal or living a life, it seems we do our best to avoid being “in-process.” We prefer a quick fix, a finished product, a smooth arrival. We want life and circumstances to feel complete, whole, move-in ready. But the more life I live and the more stories I bear witness to, it seems we're fooling ourselves; our experiences are never quite as put-together as we'd like.  Instead, our actual lives often feel more like the middle. The so-close. The almost. The to-be-continued. So, what if we could rest in that and learn to let ourselves be unfinished? What if we could choose to move through the process without an agenda? What could that look like? Listen in. When You're In The Ellipsis of Life by Emily P. Freeman Patient Trust by Pierre Teilhard De Chardin We're gearing up for remind{h}er 100! To keep in touch for now, make sure you're part of The Re{collection}! Sign up by CLICKING HERE. See you in August :)  

Sometimes, familiarity can be grounding. Steadying. Sometimes it's exactly what we need. That is true. And yet, in my experience, a life can become “overly-familiar,” feeling stale, monotonous, mundane. The days all run together because the days all look the same. And sometimes, it might be the unfamiliar that helps us remember the life we hope to live. So, what should we do when we start to feel stuck in our very own lives? Maybe it's time to get out of town. What might we notice? Who might we meet? And how might we return with a fresh and more full perspective? Listen in. Target. The store. Need I say more?! remind{h}er 72: Practice Getting Lost Make sure you're receiving The Re{collection}! Sign up HERE. www.remindherpodcast.com     

Often, I prefer a faith I can figure out. A God I can both know and fully understand. A theology that is set in stone, fitting nice and neat in a sturdy box, where, as author Mike Cosper puts it, “what you see is what you get.” But one thing I'm learning is that a sense of mystery and wonder can be an important part of our faith. Maybe the call is not to be a know-it-all. Maybe the invitation is more wonder-full than that. So what might it look like to lean into the "wow" rather than the "how?" To hold both the explanation and the experience? Listen in. Unsolved Mysteries Recapturing the Wonder by Mike Cosper Soulful Spirituality by David Benner CLICK HERE to sign up for The Re{collection} www.remindherpodcast.com 

In her book, The Power of Writing it Down, Allison Fallon writes, “What do you want to remember about your life? What we write down is what we remember. It's like a time capsule in a way, a lifeline back to the best parts of ourselves. A little popcorn trail of words we can follow so that we never lose sight of the path we're on. Words help us see ourselves more clearly. They help us remember who we are and what we're here for.” In today's episode, we're considering the spiritual practice of journaling. Even if you think it's not your thing, I hope you'll listen in. A Burning in My Bones by Winn Collier The Pastor by Eugene Peterson Sue Pickering Everything Happens with Kate Bowler + Maggie Smith {S10 Episode 7} CLICK HERE to sign up for The Re{collection} www.remindherpodcast.com 

When it comes to hope, I'd prefer if someone would hand me a metaphorical bouquet of hope-in-full-bloom, something I can point to and easily say, “There's the beauty. There's the color. There's the life.” Like a bunch of hope-filled balloons, I want to grab hold and immediately float above the struggle, the disappointment, the heartache, the fear. I want hope in an instant, hope on-demand. And yet, if you're like me, our experience of hope isn't always that easy or care-free. Hope doesn't always make a bright, grand entrance; hope often starts small, sneaks in the side door and, rather than flipping a switch to turn on the light, it quietly keeps us company in the dark. And maybe that's a good thing. Because maybe that's exactly where hope is cultivated, where hope takes root, where hope begins to grow. Listen in. remind{h}er 11: While We Wait Learning to Walk in the Dark by Barbara Brown Taylor Jan Richardson www.remindherpodcast.com 

If we're being honest, we all know the sharp sting of judgement in some way, shape, or form. The way it makes us feel small. And ridiculed. And misunderstood. And yet at the same time, we've all cast many a judging eye. But that doesn't mean passing judgement is what we're called to as followers of Jesus. So what are we to do instead? While I don't have a straightforward “how-to” to share with you, and while this is an ongoing struggle in my own life, there are a few invitations I've found helpful and important to keep in mind as we seek to embody a non-judging presence. Listen in. Ted Lasso clip CLICK HERE to sign up for The Re{collection} www.remindherpodcast.com 

"If your faith were a color, what would it be?" When it comes to our faith, sometimes, we forget the color. The significance of a faith that is abundant and intricate and vibrant and vast and rich and layered and nuanced. It's not uncommon to experience a faith that, maybe, has faded a bit. I wonder what it might look like to add a little color, both literally and figuratively.  I'm learning to welcome whatever the color might be—positive or negative—remembering that each color has its place, that God can create beauty out of any palette, and that I am loved, even in the murky gray. Listen in. Pray In Color by Sybil Macbeth Sacred Compass by Brent Bill Jan Johnson The Wizard of Oz CLICK HERE to learn more about and sign up for The Re{collection} www.remindherpodcast.com 

Today, as we continue to settle into the season of Lent, I want to share a prayer based on Psalm 51. Psalm 51 is the psalm with the familiar line, “Create in me a pure heart, O God, and renew a steadfast spirit within me.” It's a psalm that confronts our sin, our shortcomings, and all that might keep us from loving God and others well. The truth is, we often avoid talking about these sorts of things. But by acknowledging our sin and the ways we fall short, we welcome God's forgiveness, healing, and unconditional love. In recognizing our need and removing what blocks, the Spirit of God is better able to flow through us into the world around us. Listen in. Sometimes an Unknown Path—40 Psalms-Prayers in Contemporary Voice The Center for Christian Spirituality www.remindherpodcast.com 

Fasting is a spiritual practice that can often feel intimidating, unfamiliar, and even mysterious. But it can be practiced in many different forms, and today, as we approach the season of Lent, we're considering how fasting might aid us in focusing on the heart of God, deepening our awareness of God's presence and provision, and better attuning ourselves to God's guidance and will. Maybe when we choose to fast, we make room for the movement of God in our lives. I hope you'll listen in. Judy Sorum Brown Sign up to receive The Re{collection} by clicking HERE! Website: www.remindherpodcast.com 

When it comes to getting things done, I am a list-maker. And part of why I find list-making so helpful is that makes it easier for me to prioritize. Easier to determine how I can best give of my time, energy, and attention. It keeps me focused and track, helping me remember what is most important. As followers of Jesus, then, it might be important to consider what Jesus prioritized. After all, don't we want to seek what Jesus most sought? So if Jesus had a to-do list of sorts, I wonder what would top the list? Today, if you're feeling distracted and divided, listen in. Find transcripts and sign up for my monthly email, The Re{collection} by visiting the podcast website! www.remindherpodcast.com 

Hurry. Hustle. Don't miss out. Don't fall behind. Get ahead. Be efficient. Stay busy. Keep up. Whether we realize or not, this is familiar messaging that's actually forming us. And it creates an exhausting expectation. It's a standard we're striving for, but I wonder if it is the standard we were created for. If you're feeling the anxiety of hurry and hustle, listen in. The Ruthless Elimination of Hurry by John Mark Comer God Walk by Mark Buchanan Sign up for The Re{collection} HERE

Well, it's that time of year again. The beginning of the year, actually. And it seems that every time the beginning comes around, we enter in with the best of intentions, maybe some newfound resolutions, hopes, goals. There's just something about the promise of a fresh start, a new beginning, that prompts in us the desire to refocus, recalibrate, maybe even reimagine our lives a bit. The goals we set and the resolutions we make all need time, commitment, and practice. And I'm learning that the same can be said for our faith. It's easy to believe that once we've professed our faith, we've figured it all out. Are good to go. Have nothing left to learn, no room left to grow. But the truth is, faith isn't only meant to be professed; it's also meant to be practiced.  What might it mean to practice our faith? Listen in. Sign up for my new montly email offering: www.remindherpodcast.com