MEMORY RESIDUE

Solitude is a Place

"Silence and solitude [is] the medicine for curing, among other things, deep distraction." - Chris Hall Lately, I've been rethinking and praying about what solitude looks like for me. As an introvert, I love (and thrive in) quiet. It re-energizes me. It fills the tank. However, I've found over the years (especially now) that it must be more and more intentional, and I believe that rings true regardless of temperament. Factors that change the landscape of our ability to find solitude range from where we live (i.e. living in the city, in a dorm, etc.) to having kids, as well as having networks of relationships, and yes, even technology effects our ability to find it. It [...]

By Joel|2019-05-16T23:49:30+00:00July 3rd, 2018|Solitude, Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation|

Be Filled with the Helper

Much of what I aim to cultivate in this space is focused on the inward journey, however, really, the heart behind Simply on Mission is the outward journey: sharing the love and grace of God in a way that overflows from a place of true identity. In other words, it looks like compassion, mercy, forgiveness, and grace in our relationships and how we engage the world (i.e. being close to the brokenhearted, remembering the poor, standing with the oppressed and downtrodden, etc.). The thing is: we are used to doing. Especially in our western culture, we measure our worth by our literal or metaphorical resumés, and when we do that, we often begin to believe the lies of [...]

By Joel|2019-05-16T05:50:05+00:00May 12th, 2018|Missional Living, Spiritual Formation|

A House That Points to Home

This month our family relocated to a new house. The previous rental where we had been at is being sold, and while we like that place, we had to begin searching for a new locale to lay our heads. We began praying, and we began looking, and something just right opened up in a way that we knew it wasn't us or luck. One of the great joys of praying and listening for the Lord's voice, is that the Lord speaks. Sometimes it's through circumstances in such a way that you sense a wink and a smile coming from the One whom you've been speaking to. This transition has brought me to meditate on how we [...]

By Joel|2019-05-16T05:45:57+00:00April 27th, 2018|Missional Living, Spiritual Disciplines|

Still, Like a Tree

"...in an age of acceleration, nothing can be more exhilarating than going slow. And in an age of distraction, nothing is so luxurious as paying attention. And in an age of constant movement, nothing is so urgent as sitting still." (Pico Iyer) As I've been pursuing the practice of stillness, I have read a book called The Art of Stillness by Pico Iyer, a travel writer. Throughout the book he makes keen observations about stillness, and in a wonderful Ted Talk that he presented, he said, "The trip, in other words, gave me some amazing sights, but it's only sitting still that allows me to turn those into lasting insights" Here, Iyer makes the realization that amidst [...]

By Joel|2019-05-16T05:36:14+00:00February 5th, 2018|Spiritual Disciplines, Spiritual Formation, Stillness|

Memoirs of a Visitor

Solitude is a Place

Be Filled with the Helper

A House That Points to Home

Still, Like a Tree