(I wrote this article for our local newspaper last month. I’m posting it here on my blog and adding some pictures, so I can share it with someone over the internet.) The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:5 This short verse from the gospel of John containsContinue reading “The Light Persists”
Author Archives: jshimota
Jennifer, Table for One
I have lots of friends who are single. Many of them have been single for years. For me, it’s been 2.5 years of singleness. And I’m noticing something. I do big things alone, now. There are a hundred thousand little things I do now as a single person that are slightly different. I’m finally learningContinue reading “Jennifer, Table for One”
Sonder
When Sage was maybe a middle schooler, she brought home a new word. I don’t know how she had found the word, but when she told me about it, her eyes were so alive with fascination…and maybe relief. She said she never knew there was a word for something her imagination had dwelt upon forContinue reading “Sonder”
Creativity as Non-violent Protest
Today, I am in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina at a women’s retreat just filled with love and light and hope and sisterhood. Today, I am reading accounts of demonstrations at the University of Virginia wherein members of the KKK, Neo-Nazis, and Alt-Right carried torches and shouted declarations of white supremacy. So, IContinue reading “Creativity as Non-violent Protest”
remembering the gentle way Love shows up
I am a pastor in the ELCA (Evangelical Lutheran Church in America). Most pastors in my tradition don’t choose the biblical text from which we will preach each week; we use a lectionary, a calendar of texts. Some use the Narrative Lectionary which has us reading through the story of God and God’s people…as aContinue reading “remembering the gentle way Love shows up”
Things that make you go hmmm…
I have a dear friend who makes “10 Things…” lists. I always enjoy reading them. Here’s one from the last few weeks of my life. Sometimes you get an invitation to a new adventure, which only serves to help you know you prefer this current adventure. Sometimes it takes a serious fall that could haveContinue reading “Things that make you go hmmm…”
Frightened and Grateful
Sunday evening, I came home, tossed my keys in the bowl, put my purse in my purse-place, had my phone in one hand and a drink in the other as I went downstairs to let the dogs out. After taking 2 stairs, I tripped/slipped somehow and tumbled the rest of the way down 4 orContinue reading “Frightened and Grateful”
Ridiculous and Authentic
All my adult life, I have read articles about health, weight loss, exercise, changing your habits, and whatever else might apply to my health. Loads of those articles are written by people who have made significant changes in their lives, and nearly all of them started out pretty sure they would never be able toContinue reading “Ridiculous and Authentic”
Bouncing Around – Post Whole 30
It’s about a month since I finished Whole 30. I continue to learn a lot about my body, since I decided that my reintroduction process would be lengthy. Roughly, it has looked like this: 5 days of Whole 30 + Dairy: I didn’t have any health troubles with dairy. It didn’t affect my sleep, myContinue reading “Bouncing Around – Post Whole 30”
…for a stranger
Two years ago, I was lying with my neck resting in the crook of a shampoo bowl, and the stylist was noting how quickly my hair grows. We had just cut it short 5 weeks ago, and it was already in need of getting shaped back up. It hit me then that I get myContinue reading “…for a stranger”
