Blog Masonry With Right Sidebar

This summer, I did a thing. I unplugged. Not entirely, and not forever—but enough to feel it. Enough to notice how entangled I had become in constant notifications, scrolling habits, and the ever-present hum of a device in hand. I needed a break, and my soul knew it before I did. So, I declared a summer tech detox—Removal of social media apps from my phone; Minimal email; and...

I have recently been giving a great deal of thought and consideration to the application and understanding of Forgiveness and Reconciliation. I believe that we, as a society, often speak of these two distinct ideals in the same breath, as if they are two sides of the same coin. While they are certainly related, they are not identical. Forgiveness can be an internal act of release—a decision...

There’s a sacred energy that fills the air when we gather—when voices rise in song, when laughter echoes at shared tables, when silent nods affirm our shared grief. This energy has a name: collective effervescence. Coined by sociologist Émile Durkheim, it describes the powerful, almost electric sense of connection that arises when people come together for a shared purpose, emotion, or...

For many years, I used the descriptors of Happiness and Joy interchangeably, as if each held the same weight as the other. But, there is a sacred difference between happiness and joy. Happiness is situational—fleeting and often tied to external circumstances. It’s the smile that comes with good news, the laugh shared over dinner, or the satisfaction of checking everything off the to-do list....

During the benediction on my last Sunday in pulpit ministry, I said to the congregation that there’s a good chance that one day, we will run into one another at a local coffee shop. And when we do, let’s greet each other with kind words and soft smiles. I deeply believe that moments shared over a cup of coffee and smiles exchanged across a room are sacred—holy encounters in everyday...

As I sat watching fireworks from the safety of my home on July 4th, reflecting on the week’s headlines, I found myself thinking about how I express both gratitude and frustration for the country I call home. Living in the United States allows me to hold both of these truths at once – It can be uncomfortable, even unsettling, but it is also honest. It is the space I currently inhabit....

For your reading pleasure this week, we have invited Mary Ward to share one of her writings from her new blog, The Progressive Pulpit. I found this particular writing of upmost importance and very timely. I hope her words resonate with you and I invite you to read more writings from The Progressive Pulpit. Blessings to you on this journey, Rev. Dr. Kelly Jackson Brooks, LPCC, CEAP...

I know when my mind is running at full-steam ahead and I find myself having to carry a small notebook with me, not to mention having to keep that same small notebook on my bedstand as I sleep and on my sink counter while I get ready in the morning. It’s a notebook that contains all my aspirations for Chrysalis, my future self, my parenting goals, and my vacation and travel plans. It’s my Book...

We’ve all heard the phrase: “Hurt people hurt people.” It’s often spoken with a sigh, an attempt to make sense of someone else’s sharp words, distant demeanor, or destructive behavior. It reminds us that pain doesn’t stay neatly packed inside—it leaks out, spills over, and sometimes lashes out. But too often, we stop there, diagnosing the symptom without asking the deeper...

Our image this week is my favorite piece of resurrection stained glass. This piece can be found at The Episcopal Cathedral Church of St. John in Albuquerque, NM off of the main sanctuary. What I find most striking is Jesus is not represented in the glass art – Jesus is gone! We teach that we are a resurrection people. We proclaim this truth with confidence on Easter morning, with lilies in...