Welcome, New Friend!
I’m so glad you found this little corner of the Internet. This newsletter is for anyone who:
Longs to slow down, breathe deeper, and find space to pause in the middle of days that are too full and moving too fast
Feels burned out from ministry, compassion fatigue, or the relentless background noise of the world
Has outgrown a prescriptive Christian quiet time and wants something more soulful, nuanced, and authentic
Needs fresh ways to connect with God through Scripture, silence, and prayer
Craves a quiet companion on the contemplative path
This summer, I’m keeping this newsletter simple and short with seven minute spiritual practices. These little exercises can be used:
Once a week, as a supplement to your regular time with God
Multiple times every week, exactly as prescribed or with your own adjustments as you repeat
As needed, returning to the practices that resonate with your spirit in the ebbs and flows of the summer
I also send round-ups the fourth week of the month. These round-ups rotate quarterly through what’s saving my [seasonal] life, what I read last quarter, and some other round-up that has been fun and meaningful for me lately.
Why Subscribe?
The spiritual practices I write are just the beginning of the soul care I provide. The written practices include a voiceover for paid subscribers, so you can listen and pray without having to look too much at your phone.
The spiritual practices that receive the most positive feedback often evolve into the one-hour contemplative spirituality experiences I host off Substack. These are my absolute favorite things! I love hosting groups, leading them into an experience with God, and inviting participants into community with one another.
By becoming a paid member, you are supporting your own soul care, as well as joining a community of other modern mystics, burnt-out believers, and quiet-time drop-outs. Founding members also subsidize access to my Substack offerings for students and those on fixed incomes. Both paid and founding members also get early access to beta tests of new products and services.
Free Members - A Taste of Soul Care
Spiritual practice posts
Comment capability
30-minute centering prayer (coming summer 2025)
Paid Members - Go Deeper in Practice & Presence
Everything free members receive
Audio voiceover of spiritual practice posts (coming summer 2025)
Subscriber-only posts and full archive, including quarterly “What’s Saving My Life” and “What I Read” posts
Early access to beta tests of new products and services
Discount on off-Substack contemplative spirituality experiences
$8/month or $88/year (annual members receive one month free)
Founding Members - Champion Accessible Soul Care
Everything paid members receive
Subsidize access to Substack offerings for those on fixed incomes and students
$175/year
One-Time Support & Off-Substack Offerings
Buy Me A Coffee - An off-Substack way to pay what you can
60-minute guided spiritual formation experiences (coming fall 2025)
Who Am I?
In 2022, I left my work and ministry in the anti-trafficking world because I burned out, complete with compassion fatigue and secondary trauma. Honestly, I was only able to stay as long as I did because of centering prayer and spiritual direction. Contemplative spirituality gave me space to not have the answers. The practices just let me be. My very tired thinking brain could take a freaking break, and my body could come to a full and complete stop. (It took a long while for my emotions to catch up!)
So I went back to school because, right, that’s a solution for burn out! But even in the shifting stress from full-time ministry to full-time seminary, God continued his healing work on my soul and spirit. And on my identity and vocation. He renewed some old dreams (writing!) and gave me brand new ones (spiritual direction!).
So I’m here now, creating contemplative spiritual practices on Substack for you. But these spiritual practices are just the tip of the iceberg. What I love most is creating and facilitating group experiences for other modern mystics, burnt-out believers, and quiet-time drop-outs to experience God together. Contemplative spirituality, on the surface, looks like a solitary tradition, but it is rich with community. And there is something special when we bear witness to one another’s lives, pain, celebrations, and revelations.
My Official Bio
Sometimes the official bio talking points are useful, so here are the highlights:
I’m the founder of Steadfast Center, where I offer spiritual direction for folks who are navigating burnout, big questions, or the general chaos of being human.
I worked as the first outreach coordinator for NightLight Missouri, building relationships with women in the commercial sex industry to offer dignity, love, and worth.
I serve with the North American and Global leadership teams for the International Christian Alliance on Prostitution (ICAP).
I have two Master of Arts degrees. One in spiritual formation from Portland Seminary and one in writing from Missouri State University. I also hold a spiritual director certificate from Portland Seminary.
I live in Springfield, Missouri, with my husband, teenage son, and bossy Scottish terrier Zelda
When I’m not working or chauffeuring my son, I love a good moody mystery, flea marketing, and playing tennis.
