We need women's voices

“We need all women’s voices – the ones that remind us womanhood can beautiful, the ones that remind us womanhood can be transcendent, the ones that remind us womanhood can be complicated, the ones that remind us womanhood can be hurt, the ones that remind us womanhood can be strong, the ones that remind us womanhood can doubt, the ones that remind us womanhood can believe. We need them all. Which means we need you all. Amen.” - Meg Conely

The Paradox of Sacrifice: There Are No Awards For Martyrdom

There are no trophies for who gets the least amount of sleep. There are no medals for who's life is the hardest. There is no Hall of Fame for who ran themselves the most ragged in service of the unnecessary or perhaps just unworthy.

There is, however, joy in service. There is holiness and sanctification in gracefully enduring difficulties. There is happiness in giving up our own comforts for the benefit of someone else.

This is the paradox of sacrifice.

I once had a friend tell me (Hi Ben Marsh! I'm talking about you) that sacrifice is giving up something that you want for something that you want more. At first I absolutely hated the phrase, because it took all of the self-righteousness out of my sacrifice. What was sacrifice if I was actually getting what I wanted most?

Truth is a paradox

Truth is most often found suspended in the center, between two realities that pull in opposite directions. It is in the tension between two truths that wisdom is found.

This is called paradox.

Paradox is everywhere and I have made it a personal project to gather these little seeming-contradictions, and my life has been richer for the harvest.