Tag: Katie Rea
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A Mix-Up, a Love Note, and a Moment of Grace
I was sitting in the endodontist’s office, rifling through my bag for the notebook paper I’d scribbled my medication list on. The nurse had asked for it to update my chart, and I was sure I had it tucked somewhere between the receipts, referral papers, and notes. Triumphantly, I handed over a folded piece of…
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Mercy at the Dentist: A Tale of Cracks, Courage, and Cold Thingies
“Blessed are the cracked, for they let in the light.” — Groucho Marx (or at least attributed to him) After a week of tooth pain and denial, I finally bit the bullet (yes, pun is intended, thank you) and made the dreaded call to my dentist. This is not a decision I take lightly. I…
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The Worst Thing We Ever Did
This morning, as I walked past my lavender bushes, I noticed they were a little wild. The butterflies and honeybees had flown away, and now the untamed growth was due for pruning before the harshness of winter arrived. So, I sat down on the sidewalk in the sun, trimmers in hand, cutting away the dead…
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Through Fire and Water
A reflection on Psalm 66. “Make a joyful noise to God, all the earth; sing the glory of his name; give to him glorious praise…” ~Psalm 66: 1-2, NRSV This week, I felt a quiet tug. I sensed an invitation to return to reading the Bible. I’d been praying with apps like Hallow and Centering…
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The Face of God in Every Place
The sage replied, “You must remember that when you look upon each other, you are seeing the face of God.” I once read a story about a ruined town, heavy with resentment, its people withdrawn and distrustful. Hatred and conflicts among people prevailed. Cooperation had vanished, and the town was crumbling. One resident, desperate for…
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Lost in the Woods: A Journey of Self-Discovery
The Forbidden Woods As a kid, my mom cautioned me not to wander into the woods alone. Unfortunately, I wasn’t always known to be the most obedient child. Curiosity got the better of me and I decided a fun romp in the woods was just what I needed. We lived at the foothills of White…
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Encountering Grace in the Ordinary: When God Shows Up in the Laundry Room
“The whole earth is full of God’s glory.” ~Isaiah 6:3 Have you ever felt God’s presence while doing something completely ordinary, like folding laundry, washing dishes, or driving to work? God doesn’t always show up in a burning bush, a cloud or a pillar of fire. Sometimes, God shows up in an ordinary everyday moment.…
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A Sacred Conversation with Rabbi Rami Shapiro
I recently had a wonderful opportunity to sit with Rabbi Rami Shapiro at a writer’s mixer in Murfreesboro, TN. There was a sense of sacred expectation as I had read his book on forgiveness in my spiritual direction coursework. Additionally, Wisdom Tree Collective used his book The World Wisdom Bible as a focus in our…
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Finding Awe in Ordinary Moments
“Pay attention to what you pay attention to.” ~Amy Krouse Rosenthal My pursuit of new skills started as a healthy habit. Now? It’s a full-blown addiction to workshops. I crave the learning, the new ideas, and the chance to grow. A recent workshop also sparked a memory of an unexpected moment of awe. I rediscovered a…
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Leaning Into Discomfort: Transforming Your Life
“Fiction is crisis.” I was reminded of this quote by Jonathan Maberry in a recent Writer’s Digest article, where Ryan Givens Cleave described how fiction thrives on a character’s messy, complicated life. You don’t write about a group of happy people having a lovely day. Instead, you embrace tension, challenge, and the need for problem-solving.…
