The same God who designed the sun's predictable arc across the seasons also designed me—a creature who needs light to thrive. He built the solution into creation itself: the promise that darkness never gets the final word. Even at its peak on the Winter Solstice, the night immediately begins to lose ground. The light always returns.
Nature & Reflections
The Thanksgiving Before the Sun
Every morning, I arrive at the pier with empty hands and an open heart, ready for whatever sunrise God chooses to paint. But Thanksgiving? I arrive at Thanksgiving with a script written in my mother's hand, frustrated when God rewrites the scenes.
Between the Rocks: Finding Sanctuary in the Waiting
Sanctuary isn't the absence of uncertainty. It's not found in answered prayers staying answered or circumstances finally settling into place. Sanctuary is the practice of returning to God in the midst of unknowns—the daily choice to sit between the rocks and seek the Rock.
Setting Your Watch by the Sun
My new psychiatrist asked how I get my needs met when I'm busy meeting everyone else's. The answer: At sunrise, every day. I meet God there. For a year now, I've approached dawn like an altar. I can't set my watch by people anymore – their consistency wavers. But the sun rises because God commands it. Every morning, without fail, He proves His faithfulness.
Partly Cloudy at Sunrise: Finding Faith in the In-Between
Santa Billy handed me a red tumbler emblazoned with 'Believe' just as I'm waiting to hear from agents about my rebranded manuscript. But I've discovered something at sunrise: the partly cloudy days are the most beautiful ones. Not the extremes of brilliant sunshine or impenetrable fog, but the in-between spaces where faith has room to grow. Maybe that's why they call it faith – this willingness to wait for what we cannot guarantee, to find beauty in what isn't perfect.
The Ripple Effect of Coming Out: When Vulnerability Becomes a Lighthouse
Two raw, relatable statements arrived in my text messages this weekend that slowed me to a halt: 'I need to be reminded that my grief is valid' and 'I need to know that I can have a future beyond this season.' What I thought would make me a spectacle—being open about my bipolar disorder—was actually making me a resource. This week showed me the unexpected ripple effect of choosing vulnerability over hiding, and how our greatest fears can become our most powerful gifts.
Behind the Scenes: A Summer of Cutting, Crafting, and Chasing Dreams
The sun crested the York River this morning at 5:59 AM, and I was there to meet it, rosewood ukulele slung across my shoulder, journal tucked under my arm. Same 9 PM bedtime, same sunrise ritual—rain or shine, whether I'm alone with my thoughts or surrounded by the Fourth of July crowd that descended on … Continue reading Behind the Scenes: A Summer of Cutting, Crafting, and Chasing Dreams
Teaching Students to Be Mental Health Advocates: From Darkness to Dawn
When my sixth-grader called herself a mental health advocate, I knew we were onto something important. Here's how educators can inspire students to champion mental wellness.
Finding Beauty in Broken Things: Sea Glass Lessons from Fort Monroe Beach
Searching for sea glass on Fort Monroe Beach became a metaphor for how God uses broken pieces to create something beautiful. Sometimes our greatest storms produce our most treasured gifts.
Chasing Sunrises: Lessons in Resilience Through Daily Rituals
Sixty sunrises in as many days taught me about resilience and renewal. Here's how a daily sunrise photography ritual became my mental health anchor during recovery.
Writer's Growth 