Pathways of Purpose

Photo by Alex Shute on Unsplash “Suddenly, there was a sound from heaven like the roaring of a mighty windstorm…” – Acts 2:2 (NLT) Pentecost has always been one of those Sundays that stirs something deep in my spirit. It’s not flashy like Christmas or weighty like Good Friday. It doesn’t get the marketing push or draw the crowds like Easter. But make no mistake—Pentecost is the disruptive, generative, empowering wind of the Spirit that still shapes the Church today. This year, I’ve found myself reflecting more quietly than usual on this sacred moment in Acts 2. Maybe it’s because of the season I’m in—balancing case management work, grief, chaplaincy, and dreams of future ministry. Maybe it’s because my soul, like the early disciples in that upper room, has been waiting… praying… wondering what’s next. Whatever the reason, this Pentecost feels personal. The Waiting Room of Pentecost We often leap to the wind, the fire, and the tongues. But before all of that—there was waiting. Acts 1:...

Photo by  Charles DeLoye  on  Unsplash Graduation marks one of life’s most pivotal thresholds. With cap in hand and tassel turned, you stand between what has been and what will be. The voices around you offer congratulations, advice, and celebration. And perhaps one voice, rhythmic and familiar, echoes in your mind: “You’re off to Great Places! Today is your day! Your mountain is waiting, So get on your way!” — Dr. Seuss, Oh, the Places You’ll Go! This classic children’s book, full of whimsy and wisdom, has become a beloved graduation gift for a reason. It celebrates the joy of possibility, the courage of adventure, and the reality of setbacks. But as inspiring as it is, Seuss alone can’t carry you into the unknown. For that, you need something deeper. Something eternal. Someone who goes with you. Let’s open Scripture to a verse often quoted at graduations—sometimes too lightly—but packed with hope when understood in its full context: “For I know the plans I have for you,...

Photo by  Rainier Ridao  on  Unsplash “Kids and youth come across phantoms until they can discover who they are and feel safe enough to communicate what is going on with them.” – Bessel van der Kolk, The Body Keeps the Score Leading in the Shadows Every leader of children and youth must at some point confront the invisible. We teach, we serve, we organize games, Bible studies, and life skills sessions—but beneath the laughter and eye rolls, something deeper is often stirring. Phantoms, as van der Kolk calls them, haunt the internal landscapes of young people who have experienced pain, disconnection, or confusion. These are not literal ghosts, but unresolved memories, unspoken trauma, internalized shame, and silent questions of identity and worth. As leaders, we are not just event coordinators or lesson deliverers. We are stewards of identity formation. And the stakes are high. 1.  Understanding the Phantom: The Hidden Struggles of Youth The quote from The Body Keeps...