The thing most about-to-marry girls want to hear is how to prevent the mistakes their parents and everyone else in the world have made.

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.

We can be assured that God’s love indeed means that all will be well, but here and now this truth must be held in faith rather than full understanding. Julian of Norwich

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.

Hospitality is the most unseen but foundational of the arts . . .

All I could hear was Miracle Max’s voice from Princess Bride. Was the vine “mostly dead or all dead?”

InSpero hosted Kate Harris at a lunch where she spoke on calling and creativity. I loved her. But I also hated her because she stripped away all my excuses.

Just press the blasted key. Publish the blog. Send that submission. Sign up for that race. Why is it so hard? Because, then, there are no excuses. You're out there.

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.