Melissa Jantz 8/26/24 Melissa Jantz 8/26/24

Forest Walks

A healthy grove of old growth redwoods creates a canopy, a roof of soft filtered light, like walking into a high-vaulted cathedral with glass windows all around. The dampened sound arrests me, making me pause, speak quietly, and listen. The woody perfume fills the air with a heavenly earthy incense.

Jamin Jantz 8/19/24 Jamin Jantz 8/19/24

Stability Is Not Immobility

Stillness is not simply the lack of movement. It is an active force. Progress doesn’t always progress. Stability is costly. Rootedness to a place requires intentional effort over a long time.

Melissa Jantz 8/9/24 Melissa Jantz 8/9/24

Compassionate Creating through Kintsugi

As we fit the pieces back together with care and attention, we graciously hold these parts of our story. As we rebuild the pottery, we recognize that our story is still unfolding and that we are invited to actively participate in the creative process. And as we notice the beauty that emerges from the repair, we look for the beauty that is emerging from our own stories.

Melissa Jantz 7/29/24 Melissa Jantz 7/29/24

The Soul is Like a Wild Animal

The soul behaves like those wild brush rabbits, knowing its vulnerability in the presence of others, hiding instinctively in its homely bramble. Patience and gentleness can begin to call it out, teaching it through experience that it can safely reveal itself.

Melissa Jantz 7/18/24 Melissa Jantz 7/18/24

The Ignatian Journey

We all hit seasons of life when we question what we were made for. How did I get here? What am I doing and why? Like Ignatius, we are forced to let go of childhood dreams and walk a new, undefined path.

Melissa Jantz 7/15/24 Melissa Jantz 7/15/24

Reflections on the Crosstown Trail

People come across our paths and walk with us for a time. Some stay til the end and others diverge onto other paths. But every accompaniment of another carries significance, propelling us onward, bringing us hope and delight in the present moment.

Melissa Jantz 7/8/24 Melissa Jantz 7/8/24

Nurse Logs—A Lesson on Death and New Life

It’s our dreams that most often die. The new and exciting job that we worked so hard for turns out to be hugely disappointing. The marriage we entered into with such hopeful expectation dies slowly or suddenly. The dream of having children. Finding a partner. Good health. Mobility. Financial security. Like a tree falling over, we feel the painful thud as it hits the forest floor.