“I feel nervous about getting back into the busyness of life this week,” I wrote in my prayer journal a few years ago. “I don’t feel like I’ll have the capacity to do all I need to do… but I’m
Altar of Separation
“I can’t imagine ever being as close to a group of people as I am to this team,” I wrote in my journal just after my trip to Peru in 2005. Between pre-trip training, first-ever flight experiences, eating unknown foods,
Altar of Pilgrimage
I first sensed a stirring towards Colombia when I was still in high school. I had gone on a church trip to Peru, and for some reason the neighboring country – land of drug dealers, guerillas, and paramilitary activity drew
Altar of Obedience
A while ago I was reading through Genesis and was struck by the number of altars Abraham built. I was only consciously aware of one of his altars – the one that involved the almost-sacrifice of his son. I began to do some research
Newly Oriented
Across the world, mosques have been “shuttered,” as the English-language news sources here have been saying. For Muslims during Ramadan, restrictions are particularly challenging. On a social level, Ramadan (and eid, the holiday that follows it) is a season similar
Sabbath Rest
Sabbath wasn’t really a part of my life until I moved to the Middle East. Sure, Sundays were special because I got to be with my church family (and maybe take an afternoon nap) but from the time I held
Image of the Invisible
“Then the man and his wife heard the voice of the LORD God walking in the garden in the breeze of the day…” (Gen 3:8). A Muslim friend and I were discussing the Biblical account of the Creation story. When
Spiritual Hunger
Before leaving the house, I make sure I have my debit card and I put a small bill in each front pocket. Living in a new city presents a number of new challenges. I’ve had beggars approach me several times
Praying for Laborers
A month before I turned 13, I wrote the last entry in that year’s journal. Before that day, I hadn’t written anything for over six months. I had confided in the previous entry, I think these years of my life
Spiritual Climate
The first morning of this month of fasting is hot. News sources warned that the today would be the peak of a dust storm. The last couple of days were really windy, a sure sign that the desert dust –