The Small Steps

In seminary I took an independent study on Christian Pilgrimage. I spent weeks reading and writing with a professor of Christian Spirituality. We’d read books on our own and come together in her office to talk. The class prepared me for embarking on my own pilgrimage – the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. The Camino is an ancient pilgrimage route that traverses France and Spain, with the destination of the cathedral in Santiago de Compostela. The way leads through large cities, small hamlets, vineyards, and open fields. Over the course of 33 days and 480 miles, I encountered rain and fog, mud and pain, sunshine and beauty. I was met by the kindness of strangers as well as hours of solitude and stories from fellow pilgrims.

Pilgrimage is a lens through which I view the world, a lens that teaches me to keep going, in any circumstance. To move through the world paying attention and trusting that each step is an act of hope. Small Steps uses this lens—attention, hope, and faithful movement—and encourages readers to see the life before them as holy ground.

Years ago I started writing essays about my pilgrimage on the Camino de Santiago. By this time I was a pastor and mother. I had this dream of sharing lessons from the Camino and what it was like navigating my daughter’s speech delay in a book. I even had a title: Pilgrim Mama. I have google docs filled with essays and ideas, and a way to remember those seasons in my life.

Over time, though, I realized that particular book wasn’t the one I was meant to share with the world. There are pieces of that book in essays and articles. Some of my most-read writing is about Charlotte’s speech delay. Yet, something about putting those two stories over one another wasn’t meant to be.

But all that writing was preparing me for the words I’d later write.

The first book I was called to write wasn’t one on my own but with a dear friend, Erin Strybis. We’re so proud of The Beauty of Motherhood and believe that those devotions and prayers are meeting mothers in their days with a word of grace.

Throughout my life, writing blessings and prayers have been a constant. I find that when I share blessings, I get the most reader response.

So I kept writing them.

Over a year ago, I started the #The100DayProject Newsletter. The premise is simple: every day for 100 days do something creative. I saw one post from my friend Lorren reflecting on this project and on a whim (and a prayer), I decided to join.

I knew my 100 days would be spent writing blessings.

That night I opened a journal, wrote the date and the #1. I quickly penned a blessing sparked by the day’s events at my book club.

I set a few parameters—the blessings didn’t have to be complete. Some days I could write a few lines or even a sentence. The point was to open my journal and keep coming to the page to write a blessing over my days. To practice seeing the world with hope and to put those observations into words.

For 100 days I did just that. I wrote a blessing a day, or a few lines of a blessing.

The more I wrote, the more I could see the power in offering blessings over my days and for others. Some days I wrote a blessing for a friend or my children. If someone was celebrating a birthday, I wrote them a blessing. When my friend released her book into the world, I wrote a blessing. When the world was on fire, I wrote a blessing. When I didn’t have any words, I wrote a blessing.

I wrote and I wrote. And over those 100 days I realized the power of blessings. That we should never keep from offering words of goodness and hope to others.

And to be reminded that God is with us in all our days.

And now I can say that many of those blessings are found in Small Steps!

One of the lessons for me in the writing of this book is that nothing is wasted. All the experiences and drafts and editing and questioning and dreaming led to this particular book at this particular time.

We have one week until Small Steps releases in the world. This time in the life of a book is so important. The more pre-orders and books that are bought the first week, the more publishers and booksellers will take note of this book and my writing. It’s a dream to be able to write books. To put words to how I experience and live in this world. And to hear from readers that my blessings and devotions have met them in their lives.

With all my heart, thank you for your support!

My hope is that you will feel these words wash over you and pour into your life. Then, that you will go and offer them to someone else. See the words multiply and scatter. Hear the hum of God’s presence in every word: You are not alone, you are not alone, you are not alone.

For blessings aren’t meant to be kept to ourselves.

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