This week, we’ve been talking about how a trellis mirrors what St. Benedict called a Rule of Life. The Latin word we translate as “rule,” regula, referred to a straight piece of wood and carried strong associations with a vineyard trellis. See Monday’s post for reference.

A Rule of Life is a framework of daily, weekly, and seasonal rhythms that tether us to Christ, the True Vine. Like vines, without intentional structure, we risk sprawling in every direction, entangled in distraction and driven by external pressure rather than rooted in love.

A Rule of Life is is a support structure for abiding.

It is intentional, but flexible.

Structured, but spacious.

Strong, but supportive.

This is not about putting more on your calendar.

It’s about surrendering to the loving hands of the Vinedresser as he connects you to rhythms that support your growth.

Creating a Trellis for Flourishing

In pruning, the Vinedresser sets the intention of the Vine—guiding where it will grow.

As we create a Rule of Life, we are asking:

What structure will support healthy growth over time?

Creating a Rule of Life can sometimes feel constraining. To some, it can seem like a list of rules to obey or a checklist of tasks to be “successful” in faith.

But, that is a productivity-driven approach to a Rule of Life.

This guide is not about maximizing your productivity for God or giving you rules to follow to “be fruitful.” It is about creating a structure that stabilizes and lifts you up so you can grow, flourish, and bear lasting fruit.

A flourishing approach to a Rule of Life asks:

• Who is God already shaping me to be?

• What rhythms will help grow into that person?

• How can I stay relationally connected to God and others in a way that leads to flourishing and fruitfulness?

Your Trellis, Your Season

A Rule of Life isn’t about adding more.

It’s about aligning what already matters.

It should:

• feel life-giving

• honor your capacity

• reflect your actual season

• protect what God is growing

If it creates anxiety, it may be rooted in striving.
If it creates peace, it’s likely rooted in love.

You are not building a ladder to climb.

You are building a structure that holds you in love.

What If You Built This Together?

Recently, I decided to try this out with our family.

Instead of each of us creating our own Rule of Life individually, we gathered around the table with sticky notes and asked:

• Who do we want to become as a family?

• What makes us unique?

We organized everything into three simple categories:

• Belovedness (our relationship with God)

• Belonging (our relationship with one another)

• Blessing (our relationship with others outside our home)

And then we began to dream:

What rhythms might help us actually live into that?

Then we asked:

What would daily, weekly, seasonal, and yearly rhythms look like that support this kind of becoming?

It wasn’t perfect.

It wasn’t polished.

But it was alive. And it was us.

And maybe that’s the point.

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Want to Build Your Own Rule of Life?

Below, I’ve created a guided Rule of Life Workbook (PDF) that walks you step-by-step through:

• Clarifying your “Becoming Vision”

• Naming rhythms for Belovedness, Belonging, and Blessing

• Mapping daily, weekly, and seasonal practices

• Identifying boundaries that protect your growth

• Drawing your own trellis

Try it as Out with Your Family!
You can also try the approach I did with our family and use sticky notes with this guide as a prompt!

Try it Out for Yourself!
Below is a little sample of the one I started working on for myself!

How to Access the Rule of Life Guide

• Paid subscribers: You’ll find this PDF included in your subscription as a special gift below.

• Not a subscriber yet? You can purchase The Art of Vinemaking Course Series on the Deep and Wide Academy (this resource will be found in Part II: Roots), or upgrade to a paid subscription below to unlock this and other exclusive content below.

Paid subscribers can download the full guide below.

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Today, on Good Friday, I want to share a contemplative prayer practice using one of my paintings called “New Wine.”

This painting emerged during a season of deep reflection and transformation—a time when I was learning to see how grief, surrender, and hope intermingle in the shaping of life. “New Wine” became both a personal journey and a visual meditation on the suffering of Christ, who was crushed in the winepress on our behalf.

On this day, we remember the cross—Christ’s suffering poured out for the world. Just as grapes are pressed to become wine, our lives are transformed through seasons of pressure, loss, and surrender. Today, we can bring the weight of our own grief and the grief of the world to him, reflecting on how even the pressing of life can be held in the hands of Christ, who transfigures our wounds into something beautiful.

Below, you’ll find an image of “New Wine” along with some guided Visio Divina prompts designed to help you pause, reflect, and notice what God may be revealing to you through the painting.

At the end of this post, paid subscribers can access the full Visio Divina meditation video, where I guide you step by step through the painting, sharing its full story, prayer prompts, and a deeper contemplative experience.

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Visio Divina Reflection on New Wine

Here’s a short exercise you can try right now:

1. Find a quiet, comfortable space.

2. Take a few deep breaths, letting your body and mind settle.

3. Gently let your eyes wander across the painting. What first draws your attention?

4. Pause and reflect: What thoughts or emotions emerge as you focus on that part of the painting?

Consider these guiding questions:

• Where in your life do you feel pressed or reshaped right now?

• How might God be speaking to you through what you see in the painting?

• What emotions are ready to be brought into His presence?

Spend a few moments in quiet contemplation. You may want to journal a word, phrase, or prayer that arises.

For those who want a deeper journey, I’ve recorded a guided Visio Divina meditation video where I lead you step by step through “New Wine.”

Upgrade to paid subscription to access the full video below.

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Today’s resources is a Guided Prayer Walk inspired by the rhythms of the vineyard. This audio meditation invites you to step outside — into a park, a trail, or even just your neighborhood — and walk slowly with God while reflecting on the spiritual wisdom of pruning.

A Taste of The Art of Vinemaking Course

This guided meditation is a small taste of the contemplative practices I offer in The Art of Vinemaking Course Series. This project grew out of years spent studying vineyards and cultivating spiritual formation resources designed to mirror the seasons of the vine.

How to Access the Guided Prayer Walk

• Paid subscribers: You’ll find this audio walk included in your subscription as a special gift.

• Not a subscriber yet? You can purchase The Pruning Audio Guided Walk individually or through a group license on my website, through The Art of Vinemaking Course Series on the Deep and Wide Academy (this resource will be found in Part II: Roots), or upgrade to a paid subscription below to unlock this and other exclusive content below.

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Today I want to share a contemplative prayer practice using one of my paintings called “The Pruned Vine.”

This painting was created during a deeply personal season of grief (you can read the entire story in my blog post “Lauren and the Pruned Vine”), and it later became part of the reflection process behind my book The Art of Vinemaking.

It was in doing research for this painting that I met my vinedresser friend Dave Bos, which led me on a six-year journey of learning from him and the vine.

The vineyard teaches us that a pruned vine can look lifeless — yet beneath the surface it is full of hidden life.

Below, you’ll find an image of the painting with some guided Visio Divina prompts that you can use right now, even without a subscription. These prompts help you pause, reflect, and notice what the vine is revealing to you.

At the end of this post, paid subscribers can access the full Visio Divina meditation video, where I guide you step by step through the painting, sharing the full story behind it, prayer prompts, and a deeper contemplative experience.

Visio Divina Reflection on the Pruned Vine

Here’s a short exercise you can try right now, even without access to the full guided meditation:

1. Find a comfortable, quiet place to sit.

2. Take a few deep breaths and let your body relax.

3. Let your eyes move gently over the painting. What first catches your attention?

4. Pause and reflect: What feelings or thoughts emerge as you focus on that part of the painting?

5. Consider these guiding questions:

   • Where do you feel stripped back or vulnerable in your life right now?

   • How might God be speaking to you through what you see in the pruned vine?

   • What emotions are ready to be brought into God’s presence?

Spend a few moments here in quiet contemplation. You might want to journal a word, phrase, or prayer that arises.

For those who want to move more fully into this contemplative practice, I’ve recorded a video-guided meditation where I lead you through the painting, step by step. In it, I share the full story behind The Pruned Vine, prayers, and reflective prompts that help you sit with grief, hope, and resurrection.

Upgrade to paid subscription to access the full video below.

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One of the quiet gifts of the vineyard is the way it gives language to our interior lives. We are rarely “behind” or “ahead” in our formation—we are simply in a season. And each season carries its own invitation to abide in Christ with trust and attentiveness.

I’ve created a short, five-minute quiz to help you discern which Season of the Vine may be shaping your spiritual life right now—Post-Harvest, Dormancy, Pruning, Bud-break, Growing, Flowering, Veraison, Harvest, or Wine.

Take the Quiz Now

Each result offers a guided reflection designed to help you notice what God may be cultivating in you in this season of your soul, and how to remain rooted in rhythms of surrender, growth, and offering.

If you’re longing for language, clarity, or a gentler way to pay attention to where you are, you’re welcome to begin there.

If you find yourself wanting more than language, or if you’re sensing a desire to stay with your season a little longer, you might consider how formation is supported over time.

The Art of Vinemaking Journey was created to walk alongside leaders through the actual seasons of the vine, not as a quick fix, but as a yearlong attentiveness to God’s patient work. Wherever you find yourself—resting, being pruned, growing, or offering fruit—the Journey offers practices and community that help you remain rooted and receptive in the season you’re already living.

Learn more about the Journey

There is no pressure to move ahead. Only an invitation to abide, to be tended, and to trust the wisdom of the Vinedresser who knows what each season requires.

Our next cohort begins in May with a retreat in Sonoma, CA. Early bird application deadline is January 31, 2026.

Subscribe now

Even in the thick of harvest, there is space to resist the pressure to perform and instead enter a posture of rest, presence, and trust as we move into fruitfulness.

The holiday season is also a season in our lives where we feel compelled to perform through gifts, meals, events and more.

To help you prayerfully tend your inner vineyard in what can feel like a hectic season of Thanksgiving and Christmas, I offer you the following reflection prompts:

1. Where are you feeling pressure to produce?

Jesus reminds us, “Apart from me, you can do nothing.”

• Where might you be relying on your own strength instead of resting in union with Him?

• What would it look like to surrender that area to the Vinedresser’s care?

Practice: Pause. Close your eyes. Breathe deeply. Imagine setting down the tools you’ve been holding too tightly.

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As we move through this harvest season—full of work, ministry, and life—the drive to perform can quietly take root. Yet true flourishing doesn’t come from productivity; it grows from abiding. It emerges from identity, connection, and joy.

If you’ve felt the weariness of constant doing…
If your soul is craving a slower, steadier rhythm…
This week’s reflection is for you.

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Psalm 23 has long been a companion for me on that path. Its imagery of green pastures, still waters, and the Shepherd’s faithful presence seems to mirror the terrain of the labyrinth itself.

That’s why I’ve created something special for you this week:
An exclusive audio meditation on Psalm 23, designed to accompany you as you walk a labyrinth—or as you trace a finger labyrinth in the stillness of your own space.

In this meditation, I’ll gently guide you through each movement of the psalm as a way to slow down, open your body and heart to God’s presence, and return to that place of centeredness and rest.

Whether you're walking through transition, uncertainty, or simply longing for deeper union with God, this meditation is a space to be shepherded by grace.

✨ This audio meditation is available now for paid subscribers.
When you subscribe, you’ll receive access to this guided meditation and others like it—resources designed to help you encounter God in embodied, creative, and soul-rooted ways.

If a subscription isn’t right for you, you can also purchase the full Psalm 23 Labyrinth Prayer Guide (which includes this meditation) directly from my website here:

Subscribe now

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Over the past two weeks, we’ve listened, waited, and opened ourselves to the slow, sacred process of transformation. We’ve sat in stillness, walked with intention, and shifted our posture to receive the new thing God longs to do in us.

Now, we arrive at the threshold of emergence.

In this final reflection, I invite you to consider what is beginning to hatch in your own life. Like a chick breaking through the shell, or a dream just beneath the surface—what is the Spirit gently bringing forth in you?

This is a moment to notice. To breathe deeply. To rest under the Spirit’s hovering presence.

You’re invited to reflect on this process using my painting, Home—a piece created for IMBY, a nonprofit that builds tiny homes to address both the housing and loneliness crises. Each new resident will receive a print of this painting in their space as a reminder: You are home. You are seen. You are becoming.

Reflection Questions

As you sit with the image, take time with these questions:

• What thoughts or emotions does this painting evoke?

• Is there something God wants you to see or hear through it?

• Consider the vantage point of the bird above the nest—what comes to mind?

• Now consider the chick. What might she feel as she begins to break through the shell?

• What kind of prayer rises in you as you ponder this scene? Offer it to God.

• What about the other unhatched eggs—what dreams or ideas are still forming in you, waiting to emerge?

• How might the Spirit’s loving presence be hovering over you and your community in this season of becoming?

Breath Prayer

INHALE: Under the wings of Your protection
EXHALE: My true self emerges

Want to go deeper?

For paid subscribers, I’ve created a 9-minute visio divina audio meditation over Home—a slow, visual prayer experience to help you:

• See the painting from multiple vantage points

• Pray with your body

• Reflect on what is forming in you

• Breathe and rest under the Spirit’s presence

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You can access the full guided audio practice just below the paywall.

If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, I’d love to welcome you. Your support allows me to keep creating visual, embodied, and contemplative resources like this to help nurture your journey toward becoming the new creation you were made to be.

Scroll down to unlock the guided audio practice and complete the journey.

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Last Friday, we began stepping into the story of waiting—sitting with the disciples in that tender space between what has been and what is yet to come. Jesus simply tells them: wait. Wait for the promise. Wait for the Spirit. Wait for the power that will reshape their lives and the world.

This week, we continue that journey together.

In today’s reflection, we turn to Acts 1-2 and imagine ourselves alongside those first followers, naming our longings, opening our hands, and preparing our hearts to receive the life God is forming in us—even when it feels unseen.

“After his suffering, he presented himself to them and gave many convincing proofs that he was alive. ... ‘Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised... For John baptized with water, but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’”
—Acts 1:3-5 (NIV)

Waiting is never easy. What are you waiting on God for right now? Wisdom? Clarity? Resources? Opportunities?

Take a moment to name it in your heart. What is the gift you long to receive?

As Willie Jennings beautifully reminds us,

“From this moment forward every common thing of the disciples of Jesus ... exists in the posture of waiting and stands in the shadow cast by the Holy Spirit and within the necessary work of prayer.”

Want to go deeper?

For paid subscribers, I’ve created a full audio-guided contemplative walk and embodied prayer practice available just below the paywall. It includes:

• Imaginative prayer rooted in Acts 1–2

• Embodied posture prayers of Surrender, Generosity, and Mission

• A contemplative walk with prompts to reflect on what you're waiting for and how God is meeting you in it

You’ll be guided step-by-step through a practice that slows your body, opens your spirit, and invites you to wait with Jesus in a transformative way.

If you’re not yet a paid subscriber, I invite you to join us. Your subscription not only supports the creation of these practices—it opens up sacred space for deeper connection with God through embodied and contemplative rhythms.

When you're ready, scroll below for the full guided experience.

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I believe the Church is in a moment like this now. The Spirit is hovering over us, ready to birth new life in and through us, much as He did through the first disciples.

As my friend Bethany Blankespoor beautifully wrote,

“As the followers of Jesus linger in the aftermath of the powerfully disruptive force of his resurrection, they wait for the next unknown chapter of their story... In their waiting, they are not given plans or detailed instructions for how to navigate what is coming. Instead, they must wait… and in that waiting, they must release their grasp for control so that God can create space for the Holy Spirit—a disruptive force beyond what they could anticipate.”

Like the disciples waiting in the upper room, my prayer is that this guide will help position your heart to receive the new creation He is shaping you to become.

In this post, I invite you into a Visio Divina—a sacred way of seeing—followed by prompts designed to help you lean into this hovering, waiting space with open hands and expectant heart.

May you encounter the Holy Spirit hovering over you with loving care as you wait with hope for what He has in store.

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🎬 Watch “Dream On” with Danielle Strickland
This short video beautifully introduces what it means to dream with God—even in the face of loss, injustice, or impossibility. Let it prepare your heart for what’s to come.

In "Suffering Cracks the Shell", I wrote:

"We all have dreams inside of us. Dreams that take us beyond the individual and communal suffering of the world. It’s just that loss and disappointment crack the shell so we can see them more clearly..."

What if the ache you carry isn’t a detour, but the doorway?

What if it’s the very thing that opens your heart to God’s dreams for this world—and your part in it?

Let Siobhan’s reflection guide you in prayer and journaling:

Lately, I’ve been thinking a lot about holy discontent. That deep, unsettled feeling that stirs when we look at the world and know things aren’t how they’re meant to be. It’s not bitterness or cynicism—it’s something more sacred. A kind of ache that’s paired with hope. The sense that maybe, just maybe, you’re meant to do something about it.

I wonder—can you name what that is for you? That specific burden, the pain or injustice or brokenness that tugs at your heart in a way nothing else does?

Is there a place in the world, or in your life, that makes you ache with holy discontent?

That god-given unsettledness that says “This is not how it should be.”
That friction between the world as it is and the world as it was meant to be.
Can you feel it? That fire inside you that won’t go out.

That whisper, or maybe a roar, that refuses to let you settle.
That’s where I want to start.

Because I believe those places—those deep, raw aches—are sacred ground.
They’re the birthplace of dreams worth pursuing.
And God has so many dreams.

We were made to carry our dreams together. Even when the shape of the dream changes, or when choices shift the path, the heart of it—the longing to create beauty, to mend what’s broken, to bring light into dark spaces—remains.

Journaling Prompts

LOOKING BACK:

• Can you see the times you surprised yourself by stepping into something hard?

• Or when something we tried together turned out better than expected?

• What about the moments when things didn’t go the way you hoped—but something redemptive still came out of it? Those times remind me that whatever we do with love and intention is sacred work.

WHAT ARE YOU CARRYING LATELY?

• What ideas or hopes feel near, like they’re hovering just on the horizon?

• Can you write them down? Don’t edit or filter—just get them out.

• Once you’ve poured those ideas out, pause and notice how you feel about them. Maybe just - Three words. Go. What’s swirling around you when you look at those dreams?

• Do you want to know how others feel when we hear your dreams? Inspired. Hopeful. Fired up.

I don’t think we need to play it safe with our imagination. Yes, not everything will happen the way we want, or when we want—but that’s not a reason to shrink our dreams. That just stifles our hope. And we need hope to keep going.

DREAM

So take another minute—dream wilder. Go big. Make it bold and maybe even a little unreasonable. If you could help build a new world—what would it look like?

• Pause again. What do you feel as you imagine that world?

• What do you hear? Maybe it’s a whisper of "yes." Maybe it’s an invitation to keep going.

GET HONEST

Now, let’s get honest for a minute. There are forces at work in the world that stand in opposition to these dreams. Systems and people whose motives and hopes don’t align with ours. It’s heavy to look at that, but let’s not look away. Let’s be honest about it.

• What do you see when you look at those realities?

• What comes up when you shift your perspective and try to see the whole picture—not just what’s broken, but where change is possible?

You’re not alone in this. I promise. There are others—some you know, many you don’t—who are quietly (or loudly) working toward the same kind of world. Some are doing the work and don’t even realize they’re part of something bigger. But they are.

Resources exist. Generosity exists. People who care exist.

The world is full of resources waiting to be released.

WHAT DO YOU NEED?

So let’s ask:

• What do you need for this shared work?

• Who needs to hear this dream?

• Who might be waiting for someone to invite them into it?

• Whose spirit needs to be stirred before the next chapter begins?

• Who might surprise you by saying yes—if you gave them the chance?

TAKE A BREATH
Let it settle in: If you only knew.

There is no end to the love, the wisdom, the strength, the mystery, the provision that surrounds us in this work.

Sit with this for a moment:
There’s a strength inside you that’s deeper than you know. A love that roots you. A hope that’s meant to grow wild.

You don’t have to have it all figured out. You just need to stay open. Stay dreaming. And keep saying yes to the good work we’re all here to do.

As Paul prayed, and I echo:
"May your roots go down deep into the soil of love. May you grasp the width, the height, the depth of this love. And may you know that even if you never reach the edge of it, you are filled, fully and truly, with God Himself.”

Breath Prayer:

Inhale: “I trust in your dreams for me, God…”
Exhale: “…and I release my fears to you.”

Inhale: “God of possibility…”
Exhale: “…show me how to dream again.”

I’d love to hear what surfaced for you—feel free to share in the comments or reply to this email.

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Explore more about IMBY
It’s a movement rooted in compassion and creativity—neighbors building homes in their own backyards for people experiencing homelessness. A dream realized in real-time.

This week, let’s take a journey of re-orientation.

Our hearts get tugged in a thousand directions: by the news, social media, pressures to perform, self-protection, and the need to feel right. But worship grounds us. It realigns our gaze.

This is your invitation to enter into sacred space. To lay down what you’ve been carrying. To behold the Lamb. And to let Him re-center your gravity around Himself.

1. Set the Space

Light a candle. Dim the lights. Take a few deep breaths. Find a quiet place, or go on a walk where you can reflect.

If you're able, consider a posture of reverence—kneeling, open hands, or laying face-down before the Lord. Let your body reflect the posture of your heart.

Read Revelation 5 and imagine yourself in the scene:

Then I saw in the right hand of him who sat on the throne a scroll with writing on both sides and sealed with seven seals. And I saw a mighty angel proclaiming in a loud voice, “Who is worthy to break the seals and open the scroll?”

But no one in heaven or on earth or under the earth could open the scroll or even look inside it. I wept and wept because no one was found who was worthy to open the scroll or look inside. Then one of the elders said to me, “Do not weep! See, the Lion of the tribe of Judah, the Root of David, has triumphed. He is able to open the scroll and its seven seals.”

Then I saw a Lamb, looking as if it had been slain, standing at the center of the throne, encircled by the four living creatures and the elders. The Lamb had seven horns and seven eyes, which are the seven spirits of God sent out into all the earth. He went and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had taken it, the four living creatures and the twenty-four elders fell down before the Lamb. Each one had a harp and they were holding golden bowls full of incense, which are the prayers of God’s people. And they sang a new song, saying:

“You are worthy to take the scroll
and to open its seals,
because you were slain,
and with your blood you purchased for God
persons from every tribe and language and people and nation.
You have made them to be a kingdom and priests to serve our God,
and they will reign on the earth.”

Then I looked and heard the voice of many angels, numbering thousands upon thousands, and ten thousand times ten thousand. They encircled the throne and the living creatures and the elders. In a loud voice they were saying:

“Worthy is the Lamb, who was slain,
to receive power and wealth and wisdom and strength
and honor and glory and praise!”

Then I heard every creature in heaven and on earth and under the earth and on the sea, and all that is in them, saying:

“To him who sits on the throne and to the Lamb
be praise and honor and glory and power,
for ever and ever!”

The four living creatures said, “Amen,” and the elders fell down and worshiped.

2. Worship Playlist: Beholding the Lamb

Let this playlist guide your gaze. Listen in full or choose 2–3 songs that stir your heart:

As you listen, allow the lyrics to wash over you. Let yourself behold Him—not just with your ears, but with the eyes of your heart.

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3. Breath Prayer

Slow your breath and pray this with your inhale and exhale:

Inhale: “Worthy is the Lamb…”
Exhale: “…who was slain.”

Repeat for 2–3 minutes, letting each breath deepen your awareness of His presence.

4. Reflective Questions

Take some time to journal or simply reflect with these prompts. Ask the Holy Spirit to illuminate what He wants you to see:

• When I picture Jesus as the slain Lamb on the throne, what do I notice?

• What feels heavy in my life right now—and how does this vision shift it?

• Is there a false self or shell that’s beginning to crack open? What’s being revealed?

• Where have I been trying to be the hero or fix things on my own?

• What part of Jesus' character do I sense He’s inviting me to embody more fully?

5. Mirror of the Soul: A Contemplative Gaze

Read this slowly:

“Place your mind before the mirror of eternity. Place your soul in the brilliance of glory. Place your heart in the figure of the divine substance…”
— St. Clare of Assisi

Close your eyes and imagine Jesus on the throne, suspended on the wood of the Cross. Let His image be the mirror.

What do you see reflected back in your own life?

Closing Prayer

Lord,
You alone are worthy. I’ve tried to hold things together, but I release control to You now. Re-orient my life around Your throne. Break open the seed of my soul. Strip away the false self and let something holy take root. I fix my eyes on You, the Lamb who was slain. Transform me in Your image. Lead me from worship into action.
Amen.

On Monday’s post Behind the Scenes, I wrote how God revealed a peek of his eternal kingdom to Daniel through King Nebuchadnezzar’s dream.

Today, I’d like us to take the posture of Daniel to ask God to reveal his Kingdom to us through a Lectio Divina and Guided Imagery practice rooted in Daniel 2:20–22. It is an invitation to step behind the curtain and ask God, the Revealer of Mysteries, to show you what He sees.

It’s designed to be a sacred pause.
A space to breathe.
To listen.
To grieve.
And to hope.

Set aside a few quiet moments. Light a candle if you wish. Breathe deeply. Allow your body to settle and your soul to open.

You are not alone. The Revealer of Mysteries is already near.

Step 1: Lectio (Read)

Listen for the word or phrase that stands out.

Read (or listen to) the passage slowly, with your heart open:

“Praise be to the name of God for ever and ever;
wisdom and power are his.

He changes times and seasons;
he deposes kings and raises up others.
He gives wisdom to the wise
and knowledge to the discerning.

He reveals deep and hidden things;
he knows what lies in darkness,
and light dwells with him.”

—Daniel 2:20–22 (NIV)

As you listen or read, pause when a word or phrase that stands out to you.
Write it down or repeat it gently to yourself.

Step 2: Meditatio (Reflect)

Enter into the meaning. Ask, what might God be saying to me through this passage?

Read the passage again.

This time, linger with the phrase that stood out.
Let it unfold. Let it echo.

• What feels personal about this?

• Where does this connect with your current season—personally, or in the world?

• What mystery is being revealed to you?

Reflect: In the midst of earthly kingdoms and chaos, what does God want to show you about his eternal kingdom?

Step 3: Oratio (Respond)

Respond to God in prayer, as you are.

Speak to God from your heart—honestly, simply.

• Is there awe? Grief? Trust? Doubt?

• Are you longing for light in a dark place?

• Are you thanking Him for something He has revealed?

Let it be a conversation.

Optional Journal Prompt:
“God, in the darkness I face, reveal to me…”
or
“Show me what You see in this moment…”

Step 4: Contemplatio (Rest)

Let go. Rest in God’s presence.

There is nothing more you need to do.
Just be. Let the word dwell in you.

The kingdoms of the world may shake—but God’s presence is unshakable.

Sit in silence for 1–5 minutes, returning gently to your breath if your mind wanders.

Step 5: Incarnatio (Live It Out)

Ask: How might I carry this into today?

• Is there a small act of courage or clarity you are being led to?

• Is there someone who needs the hope of God’s kingdom today?

• Is there a place in your life where you can wait with trust, even when mysteries remain?

Closing Prayer:
God of Light, Revealer of Mysteries,
thank You for speaking through Your word.
Show us Your kingdom—not just with our eyes, but with our lives.
Amen.

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In a world full of noise, outrage, and over-simplified narratives, it’s easy to lose ourselves in stories that aren’t fully true. Sometimes, these stories are born from our own pain. Other times, we absorb them from headlines, social media, or cultural assumptions. Whether personal or societal, these stories shape how we see the world, ourselves, and others.

This practice is designed to help you step away from reactive narratives and move toward truth, humility, and healing. Inspired by Brené Brown’s Rising Strong as a Spiritual Practice, we’ll walk through two steps: The Reckoning and The Rumble.

You’ll need a journal, a quiet space, and about 20–30 minutes.

Step 1: The Reckoning

“The story I’m telling myself is…”

Start by writing your sh**ty first draft. Be completely unfiltered—this is not the time to edit or spiritualize. It’s just you, your heart, and God.

You can write about:

• A personal experience that brought pain, anger, or confusion

• A conflict or misunderstanding

• A cultural or political event that stirred something in you

Prompt:

• What happened?

• How do you feel about it?

• Who is to blame?

• Who is the villain? Who is the victim?

• What do you notice surfacing as you write?

• Is anything already starting to feel oversimplified or even a little ridiculous?

Let this be a space for honest lament. Just like in the Psalms, nothing is off-limits in the presence of God.

Pause for prayer:

“God, I offer you my raw and unfiltered perspective. Meet me in the truth—even when it’s hard. Help me begin to see what’s really going on beneath the surface.”

Step 2: The Rumble

“What is true here? And what needs to be challenged?”

Now, take a step back. With compassion for yourself, begin to examine the narrative you wrote. This is where truth meets tenderness.

Prompt:

• What am I believing right now? Is it true?

• Who or what am I blaming? Who is the villain in this story? Is that entirely accurate?

• What does Scripture say about this situation—or about the emotions I’m feeling?

• What parts of this narrative may be rooted in shame, fear, or woundedness?

• What perspectives might I be missing?

• Who do I need to listen to in order to see a fuller picture?
  (The goal here is not to confirm what you already believe, but to seek a deeper, more honest understanding.)

As you reflect, jot down any truths that rise to the surface. They may feel quieter than the first draft—but they will likely ring truer, deeper, and more aligned with God’s heart.

Scripture to meditate on:
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind…” – Romans 12:2
“Our struggle is not against flesh and blood…” – Ephesians 6:12
“You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” – John 8:32

Pause for prayer:

“Jesus, be the truth that sets me free. Help me see with clarity, humility, and love. Expose the lies I’ve believed, and lead me into a better story.”

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A Final Note

This practice isn’t about getting to the “right answer.” It’s about growing in awareness, deepening your discernment, and softening your heart. As you keep practicing the Reckoning and Rumble, you may find yourself becoming more compassionate toward others—and toward yourself.

If you try this practice, I’d love to hear what surfaced for you. Or feel free to return to this space as often as needed. We’re all in process. And God meets us right there.

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I’ve created a guided Visio Divina practice to help you prayerfully contemplate this painting and open your heart to God’s presence. Paid subscribers will receive the full guided audio meditation, and you can also access this resource by purchasing the Holy Week Encounter Pack on my website for $10 here.

An Invitation to See and Behold

I invite you to pause and reflect on the finished work of Christ through art. Visio Divina, or "divine seeing," is a practice of slowly contemplating an image, allowing God to speak to you through what you notice, feel, and experience.

Visio Divina Prompts

1. Settle your spirit: Take a few deep breaths and let your body and mind slow down. As your eyes move through the painting, notice — what draws your attention?

2. Gaze upon Christ: What do you observe in Jesus' posture? What emotions or thoughts rise up as you behold Him?

3. Receive God’s presence: Become aware of God’s loving presence with you. Is there something He wants you to see, hear, or know through the painting?

4. Pray from the heart: What kind of prayer stirs within you? Is there a word or phrase that lingers?

The Cosmic Surrender

This painting is inspired by Paul’s prayer in Ephesians 1:

At the right time He will bring everything together under the authority of Christ — everything in heaven and on earth. (Ephesians 1:10)

I painted Christ in a posture of surrender, holding together the tension of death and resurrection. In His crucifixion and rising, Jesus unites all things:

• Light and darkness

• Heaven and earth

• Creator and creation

We, too, are invited to experience both the cross and resurrection as Jesus makes us whole and draws us into the fullness of His grace.

Take a moment to reflect: What riches have you received through Christ’s death and resurrection? Pause and offer gratitude for these gifts.

An Invitation into a Guided Visio Divina Practice

For paid subscribers, I’ve recorded a full guided Visio Divina meditation video to walk you through this experience, with reflective music and space for personal prayer. Upgrade to a paid subscription to access the full video guided experience, or purchase the Holy Week Encounter Pack to journey deeper through this sacred week.

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In place of our usual Wednesday Walks, I invite you to slow down and enter into the story of Holy Week through guided imaginative prayer as we walk with Jesus to the Cross.

This Holy Week, I’m offering a special way to journey with Jesus through His final days. I’ve created a Holy Week Encounter Pack — three guided spiritual practices designed to help you walk alongside Christ to the Cross. Paid subscribers will receive these practices throughout the week, and you can also purchase the pack directly on my website for $10 here.

Below are a few prompts to help you step into this sacred journey:

• Picture the scene: Imagine the streets of Jerusalem, the sounds of the crowd, the feel of the dusty road beneath your feet. Where are you in the story?

• Walk beside Jesus: Visualize yourself walking with Jesus as He carries His Cross. What do you notice in His face? What words might He speak to you?

• The weight of the moment: As Jesus stumbles, consider the weight of the Cross — not just the physical burden, but the spiritual one. What burdens are you carrying? Can you offer them to Him?

For paid subscribers, I’ve created a complete audio resource to guide you through this meditation, allowing you to fully immerse yourself in the journey to Calvary.

Here’s a glimpse into the meditation:

On this special Holy Week meditation, we are going to practice some imaginative prayer by entering the scene of Christ’s Crucifixion within the story in Luke 23. In this exercise, we are creating space within the text to allow God to speak to us as we imagine the scene unfold. I will lead you through the prompts in the story, and with your eyes closed, I want you to allow yourself to enter into the sights, smells, sounds, and feel of the scene as it unfolds. Every so often, I will pause to offer a question while the music continues to play. This may be a time you may want to have your journal handy in case you want to write something to remember and return to later.

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Our world has been turned upside down, and we all feel the weight of it. Yet, few of us make space to process the layers of loss and disappointment we carry. Grief often lingers beneath our busyness and distraction, leaving wounds unhealed.

When pain comes, our instinct is to cling tightly to control. We've lost so much already — how could we give God what little remains? But if we hope for beauty to rise from ashes, we must surrender our grief and pain to the One who makes things grow:

“For as the soil makes the sprout come up and a garden causes seeds to grow, so the Sovereign LORD will make righteousness and praise spring up before all nations.” — Isaiah 61:11

We surrender to the God who makes things grow when we surrender to Him in lament.

What Is Lament?

In Scripture, lament is both individual and communal. In seasons of personal and collective suffering, we need to learn both forms to become the people God calls us to be.

Here’s why lament is powerful (adapted from Jaco Hamman’s When Steeples Cry):

• It transcends current reality, pointing to hope.

• It acknowledges and affirms the value of embodied life.

• It gives permission to grieve and protest.

• It empowers the vulnerable.

• It purifies anger and the desire for vengeance.

• It fosters solidarity with those who suffer.

• It revitalizes praise and hope.

3 Ways to Practice Lament:

1. Lament Through Art

The arts have a way of embodying lament especially when there are no words. When I returned from a civil rights tour of Montgomery, Alabama, I returned struggling to process my experience as I entered into the pain of the black experience in America. The emotions were too fresh to put into words, so I channelled my grief and lament into paint that became a kind of wordless groan in the paint below:

As you can see, lament doesn’t need to take a tangible form, but can be simply a way of releasing and letting go the pain in your heart through creative expression. Here is a series of paintings I included in this post were lament paintings I created after the death of Ahmaud Arbery and George Floyd. May they aid you in your lament as well.

2. Lament Through Music:

Sometimes words fail us, but art and music can carry our grief. Some of the best artists I’ve seen do this are Common Hymnal and Porter’s Gate Lament Songs. I’ve also curated Spotify playlists to aid your practice here:

• Lament With Words

• Lament Without Words

3. Write Your Own Lament:

• Write a personal lament. Where have you encountered disappointment in the last year? Those times that you say to yourself or to God, “I thought it was going to look like _______, but instead __________ happened.”

  OR

• Write a communal lament. Look around - where is the world crying out in pain? Write a lament on behalf of the pain you are seeing in the world. Where have you seen others encounter loss or have to let go of something they held dear? Communal lament is a way of walking in solidarity and empathy with those who suffer.

Want guidance on how to write your own lament? I’ve created a PDF guide to help you write your own lament. Unlock the guide below with a paid susbcription.

Get the “Write Your Own Lament” Guide:

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In these times of crisis, we can become overwhelmed by the weight of the world’s pain and needs and the constant barrage of information. Our headlines are full of injustice, division, and fear, and these constant stressors can leave us stuck in a state of heightened alertness.

Have you ever noticed how your body reacts when you’ve read or watched the news recently!? Maybe your heart races, your shoulders tense, or your mind starts spinning with anxious thoughts. This is your fight-or-flight response kicking in—a built-in survival mechanism that helps us react to immediate danger. I wrote about this in my last post, “How Do We Respond in Pain?”

When we live in a world that’s increasingly uncertain and full of crises, it’s easy for that survival mode to become our default setting. My spiritual director calls this “being hijacked” by stress. When we’re trapped in this reactive state, we operate from fear rather than peace, leaving us unable to respond thoughtfully. In such times, it’s crucial to have a practice to help us get unstuck and return to a balanced, centered place. That’s why I created the BREAK practice.

The BREAK practice is a guided method to help shift you from the fight-or-flight response to a more grounded, centered state. By following these steps, you can move from overwhelm to peace and clarity. Maybe you want to practice this right now.

BREAK

Breathe:
Take slow, deep breaths to calm your nervous system and activate your body’s natural “rest and digest” mode.

Respond to Your Body:
Notice what’s happening physically. Is your heart racing? Are your muscles tense? Paying attention to these signals can help you catch fight or flight early.

Empathize with Yourself:
Instead of judging yourself for reacting, offer compassion. Your body is trying to protect you.

Ask:
What am I believing right now…about myself? About God? About others? Is this belief true? Often, our fight or flight response is fueled by distorted beliefs or fears.

Know the Truth:
Gently remind yourself of what is true. What does God say about you? What does he say about himself? About others? And how might you change your response in light of the truth you now know?

This practice helps shift your brain from the amygdala (responsible for fight-or-flight) to the prefrontal cortex, allowing you to make decisions from a place of clarity and peace.

Why Practice BREAK?

When we’re stuck in stress or anxiety, we often make decisions from a place of fear. The BREAK practice helps you pause, breathe, and center yourself in Christ so you can respond from your true self. It reminds you that you don’t have to carry your burdens alone, and that God is with you in your moments of distress.

I’ve recorded an audio guide to walk you through the BREAK practice. If you’re a paid subscriber, you can access the full guide at the link below.

Not a paid subscriber yet?
Consider becoming a paid subscriber for exclusive access to more resources like this, including audio guides and spiritual practices to help you stay grounded and connected in your journey.

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Monday is St. Patrick’s Day, and as we journey through our Seeds of Hope series for Lent, I can’t think of a better figure to model for us the Lenten practices of prayer and fasting than St. Patrick.

On Ash Wednesday, Patrick, the beloved apostle of Ireland, ascended Croagh Patrick and spent 40 days in prayer in fasting, mirroring Christ's time in the wilderness. On that mountain, he wrestled in prayer, contending for the spiritual renewal of a nation. His fasting wasn’t just an act of personal piety but a surrender — a pouring out of himself to make space for God’s transformative presence.

Legend tells us that St. Patrick drove the snakes out of Ireland, casting out a spirit of evil and darkness driving snakes and demons out of Ireland from here. It is said he threw them all into Demon's Hollow or Log na nDeamhan, a lake at the north base of Croagh Patrick.

His time of fasting and prayer became a form of spiritual warfare, clearing the wilderness of his soul and the land he served. This wilderness was not a place of abandonment but of encounter — a sacred space where God met Patrick in his weakness and filled him with divine strength.

An Invitation to Wilderness

Lent invites us into our own wilderness, where we step away from the noise of life to face the deserts of our hearts. It is in this quiet, untamed space that God can reveal what needs to be healed, pruned, or released - in us, and in our world.

If you’re longing to walk deeper into the Celtic Christian tradition, I also want to share an opportunity to experience this journey firsthand. The Celtic Way Digital Pilgrimage through InterVarsity Study Abroad is a beautiful way to explore the landscapes and stories that inspired this painting series. Learn more and join the pilgrimage here.

I don’t know about you, but when I look at the news, it’s hard for me to see past the physical, tangible experiences of political leaders abusing their power. But, I often forget that behind every act of violence, evil, and injustice, are spiritual forces that I cannot change by waging war against them.

As Paul says,

For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.
- Ephesians 6:12

I wonder — in the midst of our world crying out in darkness, what it might look like to wage war against these rulers and authorities through prayer and fasting?

How might we shift our attention from gut-responses out of fear or anger, into concerted prayer, contending for the soul of our nation like St. Patrick did?

In prayer and fasting, could we uncover a kind of power that is not of flesh and blood, but wholly other than and different from the powers of the world, yet has the capacity to cast out evil?

When Patrick descended the mountain, he didn’t return to life as usual. His wilderness experience was not an end but a beginning — a launching point for a life on mission with Jesus infused with love.

Reflect:

1. During this Lenten season, what might it look like to enter into a practice of prayer and fasting for your nation?

2. What holy work could He birth in the hidden places of your soul that leads you into a life infused with love?

As you reflect on Patrick’s story of Croagh Patrick through the visio divina exercise below, consider where God might be calling you to draw on his power through prayer and fasting. May our time in the wilderness, like Patrick’s, become a sacred preparation to carry the light of Christ into a world longing for hope.

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Visio Divina

Prompts

1. Take a few deep breaths and let your body and mind slow down. As your eyes move through the painting, notice - what catches your eye? Do one of the panels draw your attention? Focus on that portion of the work and sit with it for a minute.

2. What thoughts or feelings does this painting evoke?

3. Become aware of God’s loving presence towards you right now. Is there something He wants you to see? To hear?

4. What kind of prayer rises from within you as you ponder it?

An Invitation into a Guided Visio Divina Practice

Unlock the full 5 minute guided visio divina meditation video below.

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