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Archive for the ‘reflections’ Category

The Power of No: Accepting Limitations

Posted in reflections, tagged , , , on May 24, 2016| 1 Comment »

Photo by Nick Kenrick

Photo by Nick Kenrick

By Sharon Lee Song

I wrote this statement on the inside front cover of my journal: “I need to establish a rhythm that feels sane, reflects a deep love for God, and a respect for how He made me.”  Lately this statement has been the meditation and longing of my life.  In these past months, there has been a deepening of the truth of who I am and who I am not.

I shared in January that I felt called to explore joining a holistic wellness ministry called Alive & Well Women.  I never expected that this exploration would lead to more clarity of who God has made me to be, and ultimately that I was not called to join this ministry at this time!   (more…)

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The Power of No: Holding onto Both Grief and Hope

Posted in reflections, tagged , on May 17, 2016| 2 Comments »

seyed mostafa zamani

seyed mostafa zamani

By Vivian Mabuni

“If ever we needed prayer, it is now. The pain is indescribable.” I read and reread Maegan’s post on Facebook in absolute shock and disbelief. No. There must have been a mistake. This can’t be. None of the thousands upon thousands who rallied in prayer the past several weeks expected the story to end this way. (more…)

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The Power of No: Living a Balanced Life

Posted in reflections, tagged , , on May 10, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Photo by EladeManu

Photo by EladeManu

By Jerrica Ching

I recently had a conversation with a coworker on the difficulties that I have with uttering the two-letter word of “no.”  Beginning in my undergraduate years, I struggled with not associating this word with lack of competence or confidence, and found myself feeling guilty and second-guessing my decisions when I use it.  Why is a tiny two-letter word so hard to say sometimes?

Through my work as a mental health therapist I often share with clients that some behaviors are motivated by fear.  The anxious person refuses to go outside out of fear that something awful will happen.  I also stress with clients that even though our mind can rationalize that nothing awful has ever happened or will happen, sometimes going out of one’s comfort zone can elicit a brand new sense of fear.  (more…)

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The Power of No: From Disappointment to the Other Side of the World

Posted in reflections, tagged , , on May 3, 2016| 3 Comments »

Photo by Franco Pecchio

Photo by Franco Pecchio

By Dorcas Cheng-Tozun

Late last year, I had a miscarriage at eight weeks. Almost exactly six months later, my husband, my three-year-old son, and I temporarily relocated to Kenya for a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

These two events — a sorrowful loss and an exhilarating opportunity — are inextricably linked. (more…)

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Reconciliation: Truths vs. Lies

Posted in reflections, tagged , , on April 26, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Photo by Nick Kenrick

Photo by Nick Kenrick

By Melanie Mar Chow

Truth or dare. Childhood memories recall a game that made me submit to the dare to eat the dreaded banana or to taste soap. The stinging words of “You liar!” from those that taunted me in my youth still feel like a slap in the face decades later.

My mind echoed back to those days when recently, I was deciding whether to put quotation marks on something I was writing.  (more…)

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Reconciliation: Defining from Differing Angles

Posted in reflections, tagged , , , on April 19, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Photo by boysoccer3

Photo by boysoccer3

By Diana Gee

Accounting

It’s tax season here in Canada. And for the first time I’m claiming clergy status to reduce my taxes. While this seems like a good idea, it has caused me much pain and gnashing of teeth. Since I had not bothered to claim clergy status before, I had to backtrack transportation and housing expenses for the last five years. (more…)

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Reconciliation: My Irreconcilable Relationship

Posted in reflections, tagged , on April 12, 2016| 1 Comment »

Photo by magicatwork

Photo by magicatwork

By Young Lee Hertig

Life, amidst the culture of virtual takeover, demands us to devote more time, energy, and resources to machines.  The ongoing dependence and intrusion of technology accompanies the ongoing troubleshooting of technological problems.  Yes, I am aware of the fact that this blog is possible because of our digital access.  (more…)

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Reconciliation: Join the Party

Posted in reflections, tagged , , on April 5, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Photo by gabia party

Photo by gabia party

 

By Eun Joo Angela Ryo

Over the centuries, the Parable of the Prodigal Son has been exegeted inside out and upside down by both the bright and serious theologians and your average churchgoers alike; each character, each action, each dialogue, each WORD had been carefully dissected and analyzed and overanalyzed again and again.  (more…)

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Adjustments: Coming Off Meds

Posted in reflections, tagged , , , on March 29, 2016| 1 Comment »

Photo by Charles Williams

Photo by Charles Williams

By Sarah D. Park

“If anything crazy happens, you’ll call me, okay?”

“You got it. So I’m off the meds completely? You’re sure?”

“For now.”

In the 14 years since I had been diagnosed with lupus, there have only been three times I’ve ever been completely off meds. (more…)

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Adjustments: Delight and Dance in the Light!

Posted in reflections, tagged , , , on March 22, 2016| Leave a Comment »

Photo by Maria Liu Wong

Photo by Maria Liu Wong

By Maria Liu Wong

Being the parent of a middle-schooler is not an easy job. Raising a middle-schooler in New York City makes it that much more challenging.

A couple of weeks ago, my husband and I let Joshua, our oldest son — a slim-built, not-very-tall sixth grader — walk home for the first time by himself. (more…)

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