• About Sarah Jo
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A Life Obscured

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

Christian Obscurity

Contemplative Photography

Spiritual Formation

Et Al

The Stone & the Stonecutter

2022-11-12

At the 2022 ICAP Global conference, I led a forum conversation on Belonging, our conference theme based on Ephesians 2:19-22. At the end of this forum, I invited attendees to use their imaginations to enter into these verses and imagine they are stones being built into God's temple. Many asked Read More

Contemplative Photography

13 Tips for Starting a Contemplative Photography Practice

2022-09-21

Contemplative photography is the practice of using a camera to slow down and notice the world around you. Some teachers use language like “seeing the world with fresh eyes,” “connecting with the visual richness of our ordinary daily experiences,” and “relearning how to see.” For me, contemplative Read More

Contemplative Photography

How Contemplative Photography Found Me

2022-09-07

This post is the second in a series about contemplative photography as a practice of Christian obscurity. I broke up with photography in 2005, and now I pick up the rest of the story.  In 2019, contemplative photography found me and said, “Hey, ma’am. Remember your old friend photography? Read More

Contemplative Photography

Why I Broke Up With Photography

2022-08-10

This post is the first in a series about contemplative photography as a practice of Christian obscurity. But before we get into the practice, let me tell you my photography story. In 2005, I broke up with photography.  My love for being behind a camera, composing images, developing Read More

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
  • Contemplative Photography
  • Et Al
  • Spiritual Formation
I bought a book of crossword puzzles (NYT Mondays- I bought a book of crossword puzzles (NYT Mondays-Fridays, to be exact) for my trip to France last month, so I could have a screen-free means of 1) dealing with jet lag and 2) not be on a screen for the entirety of my flights. And wouldn’t you know, I’m home and they are a great and relaxing way to stay off of screens at home too!! (Except when I am stuck with a super old pop culture or history reference that I have to look up!)
18 + 17 = 35 years married. We celebrated our June 18 + 17 = 35 years married. We celebrated our June 10 wedding anniversaries together tonight. This is the the sixth year (as best we can remember) that we’ve held up this tradition!! @deb.whittington @soar.pilot @hotel_vandivort @rooftop.vantage
And they were delicious. And they were delicious.
She is barely tolerating this less than ideal loun She is barely tolerating this less than ideal lounging scenario, but then she will not tolerate the possibility that I could be outside and she inside.
Poolside studying is my vibe this summer. 😎 Poolside studying is my vibe this summer. 😎
Instagram post 17967433226517115 Instagram post 17967433226517115
It’s so good to be back in Chamonix!! I ♥️ t It’s so good to be back in Chamonix!! I ♥️ this place!!
@zeldathescottie is either protesting this trip or @zeldathescottie is either protesting this trip or asking to go with me. Can’t tell for sure.
Some of this afternoon’s reading included though Some of this afternoon’s reading included thoughts on self-care. So I am imbibing in extra sugar, extra caffeine, extra dairy… 😂
The plants at @bluskiessalon are maybe the happies The plants at @bluskiessalon are maybe the happiest in town. 😍
The latest addition to my houseplant collection!! The latest addition to my houseplant collection!! Here’s hoping that I can keep this lovely fiddle leaf fig happy!! (And yes, she is currently being propped up with string attached to the curtain rod!) #houseplants #fiddleleaffig #fbmarketplace #cozyminimalist
I’m organizing a summer silent prayer group!! Wh I’m organizing a summer silent prayer group!! What a great opportunity to carve out time to listen to the Lord! Whether you are curious, experimenting, or an old pro at silent prayer, I’d love for you to join me!! DM your email address to tell me YOU ARE IN! #springfieldmo #spiritualformation #silentprayer #contemplativespirituality
Anyone else instructed to keep their weekend clear Anyone else instructed to keep their weekend clear because Zelda: Keys of the Kingdom releases on Friday? While the video gamers in my house hang out, I guess I will do homework and work on spring gardening!
When your professors don’t assign 100% of a text When your professors don’t assign 100% of a textbook AND it was the most interesting textbook of the semester, you add it to the top of your post-semester reading list! I’m just getting to the application section, but I suspect that if you work with people at all and have any interest in psychology or neuroscience, you might want to pick up this book!!
FIRST YEAR OF SEMINARY DONE AND DUSTED!! 🙌 I br FIRST YEAR OF SEMINARY DONE AND DUSTED!! 🙌 I bribed myself with everything in my playbook last night to record the final presentation and turn it in. What were those bribes? Hitting estate and garage sales this morning, quality time with a Cormoran Strike novel, cheap books at the Friends of the Library book sale, and Andy’s Frozen Custard. I have 10 days until summer term starts. Must make the most of it!!
When you’ve been on the couch sick for so long y When you’ve been on the couch sick for so long you merge with the couch. 😂
It’s difficult to write papers when @zeldathesco It’s difficult to write papers when @zeldathescottie insists on sitting on one’s lap all morning. #butiloveher
Working on a little laundry room refresh this spri Working on a little laundry room refresh this spring! Ordered this print from Etsy and had it framed and matted. The poppies go beautifully with the poppies on the hand painted platter I use as a home base. #cozyminimalist #cozyminimalistcommunity
In case anyone has been on the edge of their seats In case anyone has been on the edge of their seats for an update on those tulip bulbs I planted on New Year’s Day… 😍 I am resisting the urge to cut them for a bouquet because the view from my kitchen window is so dang lovely.
I picked up these wooden Adirondack chairs on the I picked up these wooden Adirondack chairs on the side of the road this week. They are in fair condition and not the color I would have picked, but they will do the trick until I decide on long-term patio furniture.
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