Shannon's Corner

  Have you ever walked along a path and noticed how different the ground can be? There may be hard, well-worn paths where nothing seems to grow. There may be rocky places where plants struggle to establish deep roots. There may be areas tangled with thorns and weeds. And then there are places where the soil is rich, ready, and full of life. As I think about the different soils Jesus describes in the Parable of the Sower, I am reminded that transition often reveals the soil we are carrying within us. Transition isn't simply about figuring out what comes next. It is also an invitation to notice what is happening within us as we move through what is changing around us. Sometimes We Find Ourselves on Hard Soil After a difficult season, it is easy for our hearts to become hardened. Maybe you have experienced disappointment after disappointment. Maybe something you hoped would happen didn't. Perhaps you've had to say goodbye to people, places, roles, dreams, or expectations. Over...

  One of the hardest parts of transition is that so much feels uncertain. You may not know where you'll be six months from now. Your role may be changing. Relationships may be shifting. Your routines may have been disrupted. The future can feel like a field covered in fog, making it difficult to know what to do next. In seasons like these, it can be tempting to stop planting altogether. "Why invest in something if everything is changing?" "What's the point if I don't know what the outcome will be?" Yet, transition is not a reason to stop sowing seeds. In fact, it may be one of the most important times to keep planting. Not every seed produces immediate results. Some take weeks, months, or even years before they begin to grow. The conversations you have today, the kindness you extend, the habits you build, the prayers you pray, the relationships you nurture, the boundaries you establish, and the small steps you take toward your goals are all seeds. You ma...

  One of the first things I notice when someone is walking through a significant life transition is that the rhythms that once grounded them have often been disrupted. A move changes familiar routines. A new job alters your schedule. Retirement removes decades of structure. Grief makes everyday tasks feel exhausting. Caring for a loved one leaves little margin for yourself. Even exciting transitions can consume so much of our attention that we slowly stop doing the very things that once brought us life. At first, we tell ourselves it's temporary. "Once things settle down, I'll start walking again." "When this season is over, I'll make time to read." "I'll reconnect with friends after life slows down." But often, life doesn't simply settle down. It continues to change. One season gives way to another, and before we realize it, months—or even years—have passed without intentionally caring for our own hearts. I've come to believe that ...