I was intrigued about the idea of walking a labyrinth and had made some half-hearted online searches to find one near me. But my first encounter was much different than I had imagined. I was co-facilitating a workshop, and my partner started the day by handing out a sheet of paper with a labyrinth printed on it. We were instructed to trace our finger along the path while listening for how God might speak. To say I was skeptical is an understatement. However, I decided to keep an open mind and give it a try.
Features
A Shadow of Hope
Whenever I hear Austin Channing Brown interviewed about her book I’m Still Here: Black Dignity in a World Made for Whiteness, one of the first questions she is asked refers to the opening line of her book: “White people can be exhausting.” It’s more than just a provocative first line—it sets the tone of the book. It’s a signal to readers that Brown is not going to dance around the truth in this space.
Meet and Greet Survival Guide
We are called to be part of the body. We need connection. So how do I navigate the parts of church that feel in opposition to
my nature?
Always on My Mind
Reality hit me a little more than six years ago when our doctor said, “This is Alzheimer’s.”
Leading Character
Leading Character What qualities define a good leader? Covenant pastors share lessons learned from the trenches. January 9, 2019 As we focus on developing new and future leaders in the Covenant, the Companion consulted Covenant ministers about what they’ve learned [...]
The Mission Forward
The newest leaders at Covenant Offices share their interests, priorities, and vision for the future through interviews with the Covenant Companion.
Big Q: When I was little I wanted to be _______. Now I am _______.
No one on my mom’s side had ever gone to college, and I thought,
“Wow, I could be the first one.”
Seeing is Believing
The film The Polar Express is a fantastical tale of belief and doubt, wonder and rationality, confidence and timidity, of seeing with the eyes and searching with the heart.
The Alpaca in the Manger
There are so many stories of Christmas. … And then there’s the one where the overly sincere parents try to bludgeon gratitude into their children.
Five Minutes with Josef Rasheed: 13 Weddings in Mozambique
Josef Rasheed is the regional coordinator for Africa with Serve Globally. In that role he facilitates, coaches, and serves as a resource for missionaries/global personnel, national partner organizations, and Covenant churches.
The Unnerving Season
Long before the 3-M company invented Post-it Notes, God was already prompting his people to jot down reminders of important events. The Hebrew word zakhor, which means remember, appears 169 times in the Hebrew Bible. The call to remember, along with the admonition not to forget, appears so frequently in the book of Deuteronomy that some scholars say the text puts forth a theology of memory for people of faith.
Exile in Lebanon
Most of my days start with a mindless pattern of taking care of the basics: brush the teeth, shower, prepare, and relax with a nice cup of coffee. Then I decide what the day will be like. If tomorrow happens, I’ll repeat those mundane actions—unless there is a reason for a change. I give little thought to the possibility of my routines being unexpectedly disrupted.