A small gathering of musicians, potters, painters, writers, and other artists captured a few quiet moments of food and conversation with singer-songwriter Sandra McCracken and musician Kenny Meeks in the home of Birmingham painter and InSpero founder, Gina Hurry.

As I walked and waited, prayed and pondered, I heard a quiet reassurance, “All shall be well.” And that one simple, but not ‘pat’ sentence, allowed me to breathe.

Beauty and brokenness are a package deal. If I live only in beauty, I live in denial. If I live only in brokenness, I live in despair. Beauty in the midst of brokenness is the cup of cold water, the hint of hope that there is more to come.

I never thought I was a worrier. Then I had kids.

'Tis the season to get those “our-kids-are-taking-a-break-from-Harvard-to-serve-in-the-Peace-Corps” Christmas letters.

People commented, “Wow! Beautiful. Glad it’s so ‘easy’ for them. I couldn’t do that.” They were clueless--nothing about this show was easy for these artists or for me as their soul-tender.