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A Life Obscured

Living an inconspicuous life while also living fully known to God.

Christian Obscurity

Contemplative Photography

Spiritual Formation

Christian Obscurity

The Wonder of Noticing Obscurity

2022-07-20

Our Scottish terrier Zelda loves her daily walks, but the heat of Missouri summer days prevents us from going out before twilight. Once the sun starts its evening decent and the heat of the day starts to dissipate (though the humidity does not), we head out the door and wind our way through our Read More

Spiritual Formation

The Gentle Leader

2022-07-06

My Scottish terrier Zelda is an enthusiastic walker. She reminds me every day—especially on particularly good weather days—when it’s time for our walk. She reminds me where I keep my shoes and socks. And she reminds me where we keep her leash. To be clear, I am not that forgetful; she just likes Read More

Christian Obscurity

Defining Christian Obscurity

2022-06-29

Confession: I’m not the best at identifying my emotions. Turns out that most people don’t consider hungry or tired as actual human emotions even though those are often my answers to the question, “How are you feeling?” So in an effort to grow in identifying and experiencing my emotions, I once Read More

Spiritual Formation

Information Overload & the 1850 Filter

2022-06-22

One piece of Christian obscurity is living an inconspicuous life and the choices we make every day. We choose how we obscure ourselves from the world, and we choose how we obscure the world from ourselves. In other words, we choose how much information about ourselves we put into the world, and we Read More

Christian Obscurity

How I Arrived at Christian Obscurity

2022-06-15

In the fall of 2020, I found myself in court testifying before a jury about my relationship with my dad. I had been prepped ahead of time by our family lawyers to share what it was like growing up as his daughter. And one of those questions addressed what my dad had taught me over the course of my Read More

About Me

Hello & Welcome!

A Life Obscured features my musings on Christian obscurity: the practice of living an inconspicuous life while also living fully known to God. Let's walk together on this journey into obscurity as we are formed into greater Christlikeness.

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Categories

  • Christian Obscurity
  • Spiritual Formation
"God only desires that our soul cling to him with "God only desires that our soul cling to him with all of its strength, in particu­lar, that it clings to his goodness. For of all of the things our minds can think about God, it is thinking upon his goodness that pleases him most and brings the most profit to our soul." - Julian of Norwich #spiritualformation #christianobscurity #contemplativechristianity
📷 I fried plantains to add to a Caribbean-insp 📷 I fried plantains to add to a  Caribbean-inspired pulled pork dish a few weeks ago. The people I live with are not the most adventurous eaters, but they let me cook weird-to-them food if I promise we can get ice cream after dinner.
Lectio Obscura, my monthly newsletter, hits inboxe Lectio Obscura, my monthly newsletter, hits inboxes on Friday! I'd love for you to check it out and subscribe. This month, you can get a sneak peak at my seminary textbooks, why Chris and I are recently obsessed with Formula 1 racing, and how I'm using Old Bay Seasoning in the kitchen. Subscription link is in my bio! #christianobscurity #spiritualformation #contemplativechristianity #monthlynewsletter
Three more weeks. Until my 40th birthday. Until mi Three more weeks. Until my 40th birthday. Until middle school starts. Until new student orientation at @pdxseminary. Three more weeks to squeeze every single drip out of summer.
The Lord is with you when you are with him. And if The Lord is with you when you are with him. And if you seek him, he will let you find him. - 2 Chronicles 15:2 #scripture #spiritualformation
📷 :: Snapped this tree bark on a recent walk wi 📷 :: Snapped this tree bark on a recent walk with @zeldathescottie. Love getting up close and really noticing. #contemplativephotography #naturephotography
NEW BLOG POST. (I HAVE A NEW BLOG, BTW!) Link in b NEW BLOG POST. (I HAVE A NEW BLOG, BTW!) Link in bio. "Someone could live a full and meaningful life—loving their family and friends, pursuing excellence in their work, walking with the Lord—without the layers of complexity and noise the world insists we need to pile onto our lives." #christianobscurity #spiritualformation
📷 I love how the sycamores catch the last of th 📷 I love how the sycamores catch the last of the sunset’s rays. #contemplativephotography
ARTICLE LINK IN BIO :: "These holding patterns, th ARTICLE LINK IN BIO :: "These holding patterns, the steady beat of our feet against the pavement of our everyday responsibilities… The rhythm we’re pounding out becomes the rhythm of our hearts. And out of our hearts, our lives flow." - Callie Holland #spiritualformation #christianobscurity
Have I mentioned lately how much E is a quintessen Have I mentioned lately how much E is a quintessential rockstar? He can entertain little cousins, run sound, act like an old person, dive, and crush all his elders at air hockey. I am so here for what’s coming in middle school!
“The idea of having faith in Jesus has come to b “The idea of having faith in Jesus has come to be totally isolated from being his apprentice and learning how to do what he said.” - Dallas Willard #spiritualformation #spiritualdirection
📷 We may be in the middle of a drought. The dog 📷 We may be in the middle of a drought. The dog days of summer may have come early this year. But there may also be flowers blooming. The deep cold work of winter helps us survive the hot dry work of summer. #contemplativephotography #spiritualformation
“A healthy Christian life cannot be stitched tog “A healthy Christian life cannot be stitched together from a series of disjointed mountain-top experiences. We need a Christian spirituality that endures the shadowy, low-lying valleys and the rocky slopes in between all those glorious summits.” - Andrew Byers #spiritualformation #soulcare
📷 Just a friendly reminder to grow where you ar 📷 Just a friendly reminder to grow where you are planted. #contemplativephotography
“Your desire for more of God than you have right “Your desire for more of God than you have right now, your longing for love, your need for deeper levels of spiritual transformation than you have experienced so far is the truest thing about you.” - Ruth Haley Barton
📷 The street and house lights caught my eye. Ev 📷 The street and house lights caught my eye. Even though twilight will soon pass into night, watch for the light to guide you home. #contemplativephotography
Draw near to God and he will draw near to you. 🥰 - James 4:8
Twilight pool vibes. All summer long. Twilight pool vibes. All summer long.
“Try to keep your souls always in peace and quie “Try to keep your souls always in peace and quiet, always ready for whatever our Lord may wish to work in you. It is certainly a higher value of virtue of the soul, and a greater grace, to be able to enjoy the Lord in different times and different places than in only one.” - St. Ignatius of Loyola #spiritualformation
📷 Are these daisies? 🤷‍♀️ Throwback to 📷 Are these daisies? 🤷‍♀️ Throwback to Kathleen Kelly in You’ve Got Mail, “Don’t you think daisies are the friendliest flower?” #contemplativephotography
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