The Practice of Reflection Archives

5 Things I Learned This Fall

“It’s good to sit with what was and what is. To feel the things we’ve lost and to recognize the things we’ve gained.”

I stumbled across these words the other day…words I wrote while processing through the anniversary of my tumor diagnosis earlier this year.

In this unexpected year, these words took on a new meaning…a broader application of truth.

Before stumbling across these words, I contemplated not sharing a fall reflection. This season has been a long, difficult one, and I was confident I had nothing to say just yet. But those words changed my mind…and reminded me just how healing the practice of reflection can be.

As the year draws to a close, may we pause to sit with what was and what is. May we recognize what was lost as well as what we have gained.

The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler

5 Things I Learned This Summer

A change in seasons is upon us. Reflecting on the summer of 2020, the multifaceted nature of life was affirmed once again for me. I certainly don’t need to rehash the fact that this summer was different from what any of us had planned. There was bending and breaking, sorrow, and joy—each of us embodying the chaos in different ways, each of us finding our way through, each of us growing and being stretched through the struggle.

Though this list is far from all-encompassing, today I am sharing a shortlist of what I learned (and in some cases re-learned) this summer in no particular order.

The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler

When It Comes to Healing, Your Pace is Your Pace

I caught myself reliving my past. Trying to rush back to “normal.”

Just as I had suppressed the magnitude of my initial tumor diagnosis four years prior in favor of continuing on with life as usual, I noticed myself trapped by similar coping mechanisms when chemo treatments came to a happy, abrupt end.

It was time to “move on” and “get back to life” as I once knew it. At least, that is what the world seemed to have to say about it. But life as I knew it had forever changed. Slowly, I recognized that while my body had healed, there were other parts of my story where healing had just begun. Over the last year, as I’ve walked toward healing, I’ve discovered that when it comes to healing, your pace is your pace.

Encountering Grace, Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living, The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler

Encountering Full Life Through Joy and Sorrow; Beauty and Pain

Today, I celebrate the start of a new decade. I turned thirty at 12:04 am.

A few months ago, I couldn’t wait to turn thirty. I was ready to leave my twenties behind and all the craziness I never expected to live. I managed to do a thing I often do and convinced myself my thirties offered a fresh, clean slate—a second chance for life to prove this decade could be different.

But as I write this, I’ve recognized the error of my ways.

Not very much of my twenties went according to my plans, but I’m continually learning that the path I never would have chosen can still lead to a full life.

Finding God's Provision, Hope in the Unexpected, Intentional + Simplified Living, The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler

Know Better, Do Better: Making the Abundant Life Accessible for All

Last week, I paused to listen and learn from a wide range of voices—specifically, Black voices. Some voices I listened to I know and trust; others were new to me.

It was a good, necessary pause that led me to this truth: when we know better, we must do better.

The abundant life Jesus came so that we may live is not for some, but all. When I believe there are systems in place that prevent certain people from achieving an abundant life, it is my responsibility to take action to make it right.

In this post, I am sharing how I feel stirred to move forward; to walk as Jesus walked and live as Jesus lived.

Encountering Grace, Intentional + Simplified Living, The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler

7 Things I Learned This Spring

Reflection is a powerful teacher in helping us to pay attention as we take note of what is happening within and around us. This post launches a new series where we will spend time reflecting on the past season before stepping into the next.

The Practice of Reflection

by MaryBeth Eiler