Shannon's Corner

  There is something sacred about the in-between. In the language of transition, liminality is the quiet pause between what was and what will be. It is the hush between breaths, the dusk before dawn, the quiet just before resurrection stirs.   Lent invites us into a spiritual wilderness—a place both barren and fertile, disorienting and formative. We follow Jesus into the desert, into hunger and silence, into forty days of surrender. We let go of attachments, distractions, and comforts, not just to practice deprivation, but to prepare room. To clear the clutter. To lay down what no longer serves.   Isaiah’s words echo across this space:  “See, I am doing a new thing… do you not perceive it?”  But how can we perceive the new when we are still grieving the old?   This is the ache—and the invitation—of the liminal. It asks us to slow down. To sit with the uncomfortable. To let go of the urge to fix, to rush, to return to what was. It’s a space of waiting, ...

  Lent is a season of stripping away. A holy pause. A necessary undoing because life is messy, hard, and overwhelming. What burdens are you carrying today? Is it guilt? Shame? Fear Anxiety? Grief? The endless pressures of daily life? These weights can feel crushing, leaving us exhausted and weary. We are not alone in the in-between. Jesus meets us right where we are and as we are—and not only as a guide, but as the One who bears the weight we cannot carry.   In the ancient world, beasts of burden—donkeys —were not glamorous creatures. They were humble, lowly, often overlooked. Their strength wasn’t in speed or beauty, but in the quiet endurance to carry heavy loads.    It’s no accident that Jesus chooses a donkey for His triumphal entry into Jerusalem. He comes as King, yes—but not in splendor. He comes lowly, riding on the back of an animal that carries burdens.   Throughout His life—and especially in His death—Jesus carr...

  Life is full of in-between moments—those sacred spaces where we are no longer who we were but not yet who we are becoming. These transitions can feel uncertain, yet they are where deep transformation unfolds.   Lent mirrors this experience, inviting us into a season of reflection, surrender, and renewal as we journey toward Easter. In Luke 2:52, we glimpse Jesus’ own growth:   "And Jesus grew in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man."  (Luke 2:52)   This verse holds profound wisdom for our own seasons of change. Lent calls us to grow—deepening our relationship with God, others, and even ourselves.   Lent is not just about giving something up; it is about being formed. Like a seed buried in the soil, we are invited to open space in our lives for God’s shaping work. Growing in Wisdom  – True wisdom is more than knowledge; it is the ability to discern truth and live it out. Lent invites us to seek wisdom through Scripture, prayer, and reflec...

  SHANNON’S CORNER Connect. Nurture. Grow. An unexpected and unplanned trip led me to see God’s marvelous and wonderful work at the Assist Pregnancy Center. I learned from the staff that this pregnancy center is unique and different in that the population they serve are women who come already with an 85-90% decision made of aborting their babies. The medical staff who are in the rooms with the women during their ultrasounds share Jesus with them and are compassionate witnesses to each baby as they are seen, valued, and loved. If the mother decides to have the baby the center walks alongside with the mother and family. I had the precious privilege to facilitate a training with all the staff of the pregnancy center to talk about the Wounds from the Work.  Listening to their stories of how the Lord called them to work at this pregnancy center and what the cost has been to them, and their families was sacred ground.  Creating a safe place for them to be seen and heard in thei...

These forty-days of Lent are places where identity is reformed, faith is tested, and renewal becomes possible as it mirrors the experience of being caught between death and resurrection, between loss and new life. It is a time of spiritual wilderness, much like the valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37. This passage offers a powerful image of how God meets us in liminal spaces—not to leave us there but to bring about restoration and new life.   Ezekiel 37:1-14 describes a vision where the prophet is taken to a valley filled with dry bones—a symbol of Israel’s despair and hopelessness in exile. The bones are lifeless, scattered, and abandoned. In this vision, God asks Ezekiel,  “Son of man, can these bones live?”  (v.3). It is a question that resonates deeply with anyone who has experienced the uncertainty of a liminal space.   We are invited to confront our own valleys of dry bones—the places in our lives that feel lifeless, uncertain, or beyond hope. Like Ezekiel, we ar...

Like a seed buried in the earth, we enter into a process of waiting, breaking, and growth, trusting that new life will come in due time. In the darkness, unseen and seemingly lifeless, the seed coat is breaking open—letting go of its old form to make way for new life. Moments of transition where we have left behind the familiar but have not yet arrived at what is to come. These liminal spaces can feel uncertain, even uncomfortable, yet they are essential for transformation. A seed, when planted, enters its own liminal space. It is buried beneath the soil, unseen and seemingly lifeless. But in that hidden place, something profound is happening: the seed coat is breaking open, its old form dissolving, making way for new life.    Lent is a time of dying to self—of surrendering our own desires so that something greater can grow within us. Making room for God to do His work in us.  Just as a seed cannot rush its development, we, too, must trust the process, knowing that even i...

  Life is full of transitions—those in-between moments when we’ve left behind what was, but we’re not yet sure what’s ahead. These  liminal spaces —places of waiting and uncertainty—can feel unsettling. Yet, they are also sacred spaces where God meets us, speaks to us, and gently leads us forward.   One of the most powerful examples of encountering God in a liminal space is the story of Hagar in Genesis 16. She is pregnant, alone, and fleeing mistreatment, unsure of what the future holds. In this vulnerable moment, she finds herself in the wilderness, and it is there—at her most desperate—that God meets her. But instead of offering immediate solutions, He asks a question:   "Where have you come from, and where are you going?"   This is not just a question of geography; it is one of identity and purpose. God doesn’t ask to condemn her, but to invite her into reflection, healing, and a renewed sense of direction. In this moment, Hagar gives God a name— El Roi...

  This week begins the season of Lent. In a world that often values certainty and definitive answers, Ash Wednesday serves as a powerful reminder of our mortality and the transitions we all face in life. It reminds us of the power of dwelling in the questions, of standing on the threshold between what was and what might be. The ashes represent both death and renewal and speak to our fundamental liminality as humans – beings who exist between dust and divinity, constantly in the process of becoming.    The 40 days ahead offer a deliberate sanctuary of reflection, spiritual discipline, and renewal. Accept the Lord’s invitation to connect with Him as He nurtures our faith and grows our relationship with Him deeper. In this threshold time, allow this to be an invitation to experience the gospel.   Every significant life change involves both an ending and a beginning. The loss of the old creates space for new growth, much as the Lenten season of sacrifice leads ...

  Finishing touches are the home stretch in getting a home renovation project across the finish line. They are the little things that really make a difference and help to achieve the “wow” factor. The design elements add both character and personality and can make your home renovation feel complete.   One finishing touch in my story after burnout was gathering a small group around me.  This was purposely designed for stewarding my well-being in not doing ministry alone but in community.  The design elements in this team were individuals who committed to caring and ministering to my well-being. Individuals I could be vulnerable and honest. Gave them permission to ask me questions about anything. Accountability in all areas of my life. Encouragement. Praying for me individually and collectively on a regular basis. Receiving collective wisdom from them in decision making. Advocating and resourcing on my behalf.   The individuals who the Father led me to h...

    SHANNON’S CORNER Why I do what I do? Loneliness and the lack of support and connection is often the lived experience that ministry workers encounter, and it grieves my heart  because this has been my lived experience as well,  my story of burnout . My mission?  Connect. Nurture. Grow. The TCK Connect Chai Chat is where students talk about specific issues they face.  This month students talked about loneliness.  It is a part of their lives as they are always on the outside, seen as a foreigner no matter if in the host country or here in the U.S.A.  The students describe loneliness as a lack of a peer group, disconnected, and being unknown.  Withdrawing even more than usual is their way of coping with loneliness. What helps with their loneliness is joining the TCK Connect calls, talking with friends if they are available and listening to music.  It is beautiful to see how God is using TCK Connect in the st...