Blog With Right Sidebar

This week, Chrysalis Counseling for Clergy 501(c)3 turns five. What began as a DMIN dissertation dream, has grown into a movement of hope and healing. This ministry was born out of transformation – And like the butterfly effect itself, small acts of care and compassion have rippled outward in powerful and unexpected ways. The title of this reflection, The Butterfly Effect, is a...

Every October, the skies over Albuquerque, New Mexico, come alive with color as hundreds of hot air balloons from across the country rise for the annual International Balloon Fiesta. Each evening, those same balloons line up for a luminous spectacle called the Glow. As darkness falls, massive orbs inflate, light up, and ignite—fire roaring into their bellies. The crowds cheer, laugh, and...

We all have something—or someone—that helps us navigate the chaos. A voice we return to when the noise is too loud. A truth that grounds us. A presence that brings clarity when everything else feels like fog. In the ancient world, sailors didn’t have GPS or satellite maps. They had stars—especially one – The North Star. It didn’t move like the others. It remained constant, a fixed...

Later today – if all goes well – I will emerge from my weekly Sunday nap and remember to call my mother, and I will remember to call my brother to remind him to call our mother, and I will remember to tell my daughter to call both of her grandmothers because today is Mother’s Day! Every second Sunday in May, florists rejoice, restaurants fill up, and social media timelines overflow...

The image you see is of myself and a magical man taken just a few years ago. This is Jim and he is my dearest friend’s father who passed away just a few short months ago. Something I know of Jim – He cared in the way he knew how for his friends and family. I know Jim had his faults – as we all do – but I knew him as a man of wit and wisdom who was always gracious to me and present in our...

It was recently pointed out to me, that all things having to do with Jesus and his entry into the city on that blessed day that we now celebrate as Palm Sunday, were borrowed – nothing personally owned or ceremoniously presented to Jesus, simply borrowed. I have given this simple fact pause over the past few days as we enter communally into this sacred time.  As we all know, Palm...

On Easter morning, I had the great pleasure of standing and serving communion with a dear friend and colleague. You see, my friend invited me to assist her during the Easter Sunrise Service at the church she serves and I attend with my daughter. Any yes, there were tears of joy to be invited and to share in this Holy Sighting – What a perfect way to start the Easter celebration!...

In a world that moves faster every day, we are constantly bombarded with decisions, distractions, and demands. It’s easy to fall into the trap of reacting rather than reflecting. We ask, What should I do next? How do I get this done faster? Who needs to be involved?—all valid questions. But sometimes, they aren’t the right questions. The most transformative...

There’s something about May that stirs my soul – In my home, we celebrate May Day, my daughter’s birthday (16th this year!), my mother’s birthday (she would not appreciate it if I shared this specific detail!), and Mother’s Day!  This is a season that the world around each of us seems to exhale—so many celebrations, trees stretching into fullness, flowers opening with purpose, sunlight...

Have you ever been privy to a conversation or message where you can literally only remember one phrase or comment shared? I had that moment today as I sat passively during worship and the comment and question posed was this: “Do you celebrate restoration in the here and now or do you sit in resentment in the past?” I have always taken myself to be a forward-thinking person, but I admit, I...