I’m Sarahbeth (no middle name), but almost no one calls me that. I’m Beth or SB to those who know me best. •
People tell me I’m short (5’1”). I guess it’s true because my first car had pedal extenders, but most people seem tall to me 🤷🏼♀️😂 •
I’ve been keeping a journal since I was 12. I have about 20 or so on my shelf today. •
I typically read 3-4 books at a time. I love memoirs, apologetics, history, and the occasional young adult novel. •
I have a BA in Literature from Kent State, an MA in Creative Writing from Colorado State, and half an MDiv from Denver Seminary. It’s just enough to qualify me as the official ‘spiritual leader’ in my marriage 😂 •
Tell me something about you!
#faithblog #faithblogger #faithbloggers #faithinspired #faithjourney #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianblog #christianblogger #christianbloggers #christianbloggersofinstagram #christianauthor #christianauthors #christianwomen #christianauthorsofinstagram #christianlife #christianliving #authorsofinstagram #bedeeplyrooted #wellwateredwoman #beauthentic #shareyourheart #whatsyourstory #writersofinstagram #gritandvirtue #womenlivingwell #episcopalian #theologymatters #graceupongrace #soulscripts #fridayintroductions
I never liked Yom Kippur, the Jewish day of atonement, growing up. It always seemed so negative, since it involves repentance of sins. It's also one of the rare Jewish holidays that doesn't involve special food. Or any food, really- you're expected to fast for a day. •
I don't observe Yom Kippur in any traditional sense anymore, but the principles of the holiday have informed much of the way I view repentance today. It's common in Christian culture for people to make their peace with God, and no one else -- not the person who was affected by acts of wrongdoing. Judaism teaches that God cannot forgive you until you try to make amends with the person you hurt. I don't believe God puts any barriers in the way of forgiveness, but it's an important principle nonetheless. Part of being truly repentant means confessing to your neighbor as well. •
But it's pretty easy to be half-assed about apologies. There's a tendency to shift the onus of blame onto the person who was hurt: "Sorry you feel that way." "Sorry my words had that effect on you." This is not what genuine repentance looks like. •
Real repentance involves owning the harmful words or behavior, and admitting you were wrong -- something that is pretty freaking hard. In this era of extremely divisive politics, I've been praying more often about how to know when an apology is due...and when to suck it up and do it.
#faithblog #faithblogger #faithbloggers #faithinspired #faithjourney #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianblog #christianblogger #christianbloggers #christianbloggersofinstagram #christianauthor #christianauthors #christianwomen #christianauthorsofinstagram #christianlife #christianliving #authorsofinstagram #bedeeplyrooted #wellwateredwoman #beauthentic #shareyourheart #whatsyourstory #catsofinstagram #gritandvirtue #womenlivingwell #jewishheritage #highholydays #yomkippur #yomkippur2019 #highholidays
It’s easy to pride myself for being part of #TheResistance: someone on the right side of history. I routinely lose perspective about some of the people less eager to fight, less willing to end relationships with people I consider to be toxic in their beliefs. The woman with the bigoted husband may be reluctant to leave because she could lose custody of her kids. The young adult with racist parents still has a strong bond to them because, well, they’re her parents. Relationships are hard, complex...and people are harder, more complex. •
The more I realize how little nuance I allow in my judgment, the more I realize that I am just as complex, and just as in dire need of grace- no matter how righteous I think my motives are. This is a bitter pill to swallow in an era where the sight of red hats raises my blood pressure. Am I on the right side of history? I’d like to think so...but not because I am good. If I am, I believe it is because God, in his wisdom and not mine, lead me there.
#faithblog #faithblogger #faithbloggers #faithinspired #faithjourney #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianblog #christianblogger #christianbloggers #christianbloggersofinstagram #christianauthor #christianauthors #christianwomen #christianauthorsofinstagram #christianlife #christianliving #authorsofinstagram #bedeeplyrooted #wellwateredwoman #beauthentic #shareyourheart #whatsyourstory #writersofinstagram #gritandvirtue #womenlivingwell #episcopalian #theologymatters #graceupongrace #grandlakecolorado
Does anyone else struggle with feeling good about life when so many people are suffering? I struggle to enjoy a cup of coffee and a good book in my favorite chair, the taste of my favorite meal, the comfort of a warm shower, or crawling into my warm bed at night without thinking of everyone who doesn't have those things. I wonder why I'm so lucky. I pray for those less fortunate and set money aside each month for various charities, but it never feels like enough. •
Just having the awareness of privilege is a gift, though. It makes me less attached to "the things of this world." I'm learning to let go of finding my identity and security in my "stuff." •
As I am mindful of those with less, I am slowly learning to live with less. I'm gradually changing my lifestyle habits in light of what I'm learning about how my produce is handled before it ends up in my fridge, and how my clothes are made before they end up in my closet. I know God doesn't expect me to change the world. I'm just supposed to continue the work that others began in bringing the Kingdom here- or as close to here as possible.
#faithblog #faithblogger #faithbloggers #faithinspired #faithjourney #faithbloggersofinstagram #christianblog #christianblogger #christianbloggers #christianbloggersofinstagram #christianauthor #christianauthors #christianwomen #christianauthorsofinstagram #christianlife #christianliving #authorsofinstagram #bedeeplyrooted #wellwateredwoman #beauthentic #shareyourheart #whatsyourstory #writersofinstagram #gritandvirtue #womenlivingwell #tuesdaythoughts #catlife #graceupongrace #soulscripts #catsofinstagram
The #EvolvingFaith19 conference last week brought back memories of my own journey through spiritual wilderness. It’s a gathering place, a “safe space,” for the doubters and the uncertain. That was me in 2013 when I quit seminary, because I felt it was the only thing to do to save my splintering faith. The doubts got worse when my father died, and some Christians were just awful to me. They didn’t tell me they were sorry for my loss- they only wanted to know if he was “saved” (he wasn’t). For years, I raged against God and what seemed to me like a very unjust cosmic system. •
At the same time, I still loved Jesus. Still believed in the redemption of the cross. Still believed in hope. So I asked God for one thing. I wish I could say he took away my doubts completely and replaced them with absolute certainty. He didn’t. Instead I asked him to point me to one thing I *could* be certain about; one thing I put put faith in to tread water for a bit until I found solid land again. •
God pointed me to two things: the resurrection, and the song of Mary after Gabriel announced that she was pregnant with the son of God. Two moments where hope becomes visible in the midst of shock and grief. Perhaps it’s no coincidence that, in her final year on earth, Rachel Held Evans wrote, “We’re a resurrection people, after all,” and “I don’t always believe in the Church, but I believe in resurrection.” •
I can’t always trust other people, their interpretation of Scripture, their takes on theology, and attempts to be helpful in grief. But I can trust in rising up.
