Traveling Thoughts

A friend asked me today how I was feeling. The truth was, I was feeling AND thinking a lot, which is par for the course. However, I have always found myself being much more introspective at the end of the year. I have a feeling I’m not alone. As the year comes to a close and we anticipate the coming year, there is so much to reflect on. I’m not a regular “journaler” – but over the last 10+ years I’ve found myself writing down reflections at the end of the year. It’s amazing to look back at journal entries isn’t it? To see how we spent so much time worrying about something and to see how it all worked itself out. Or how things seemed to unfold in new and unexpected ways, often for the best even if we found ourselves unsure initially. Looking back on what I wrote for the end of 2013, I was ready to move on and for the year to be over. It was a year of tragedy, loss, and grief with the passing of two people only weeks apart. I spent the rest of the year reeling t...

“So what are you going to do with all your free time now?” A question a good friend asked after I told her that I turned in my last paper completing my seminary journey. It was a similar question I started asking myself this spring. I am a list person. I am driven by creating and meeting goals. I even make lists in my sleep. Seriously. Fewer things in life give me more pleasure than crossing off something from a to do list. So on a road trip to the Foothills of Ohio with a friend this spring, I made a list of 30 things I wanted to “check off” before December 2017. Why the December 2017 timeline? Well, part of creating goals is to have a time line for when you will complete them. This isn’t a bucket list of things I want to do before I die. It is a list of things that work to live out a meaningful life and story. Looking through the list, I can’t even begin to imagine what kind of stories I will be able to share and people I will meet along the way. I think that’s what is so ...

The Dayton Daily News reported that five area Friendly’s, the last of a restaurant chain in Dayton, closed without warning on Monday.  While most might scroll past this story, my heart sank a little. You see, I have a long history with this restaurant. Which might sound a little (or a lot) silly, but before you judge – let me explain. Growing up, I regularly went to Mass with my grandparents. While my grandmother was a one of the best cooks I know, we would sometimes be treated to a meal or ice cream at Friendly’s. Don’t get me wrong; even at a young age I knew it was a bribe.   I didn’t realize the family history behind this bribe until I was a little older when my aunt visiting from California took me out to lunch. Where did I want to go? Friendly’s of course, you can get lunch AND ice cream. The lunch conversation swirled to many topics but one of them stood out. It was there that my aunt told me how my grandparents used the same “trick” on her gr...

Some people never see injustice in the world or even in their daily lives. Perhaps it's because there is lack of education or understanding on how to recognize it? Or maybe it's because we can become too focused on our own lives? It's when we become inwardly focused on our own lives a blind spot is created to what's going on in our community, country, and around the world. It seems as though there is a natural predisposition not to see anything we don't want to, aren't expecting, or can't explain. Or perhaps it's an attitude of injustice is somebody else's problem ? Injustice can be ignored because it's not our problem? Or we hold this belief that someone else will handle it, we don't need to get personally involved. What if you found yourself not being able to ignore the injustice, oppression, and marginalization that people in our community, in country, and around the world face? It is my belief that awareness is the first ste...

Have you ever felt lost in the crowd? For someone who loves concerts, there is always this heightened sense of anxiety for me being in a large group. I constantly catch myself looking around to make sure the people I came with are by my side, I avoid bumping into strangers, and I leave early so I'm not in this rush of people. I've found that being in large churches can feel the same way. Most of my experiences of church is from the lens of the large church context. Before I got connected with any ministry areas when I first started going to church, I found myself lost in this sea of people coming and going. I could easily slip in and out of service without people noticing and I could even miss worship and no one would think twice about it. Reflecting back, I realize that I treated church like a crowded concert that I loved going to, but rarely interacted with others and take advantage of any chance to leave early. It wasn't until I got connected to a small group ...

Reflecting back on this past week, I realized that I missed sharing a significant milestone in my life...my last first day of school! I almost felt the need to pinch myself after finishing my first week of classes to make sure it was real life that I am in the final lap of my "formal" education. I figured now would be as good a time as any to share my "educational journey" and first day of school traditions with Faith Community and find out your traditions.    Even if I wanted to, I don't think it would be possible for me to forget my first day of school each year. I would like to say it was because there was just this excitement in the air about what new possibilities and opportunities for learning that came with a new school year, but really it was because my mom made such a fuss. She had this school bus flag that she would hang up each year that would act as our photo shoot backdrop. Each year, my brother and I had to hold up fingers which showed what...

My name is Kate Smith...and I'm a foodie and I need your help. Not to stop - but I need your expertise of the West Chester area so be sure to check out the questions in the last paragraph. According to one of the most credible sources on the interwebs, Wikipedia, a foodie can  be defined as someone who seeks new food experiences as a hobby rather than simply eating out of convenience or hunger. I think my identity as a foodie stems from a rule that we had on family vacations: eat locally. This meant skipping national chains and opting for "mom and pop" hole in the walls, greasy spoons, and establishments that were unique to that area.  This guideline for harmonious travel has translated into my everyday life, my mentality when I travel or visit new places, and even ministry. Considering myself an adventurous type, I always like to explore what makes each place I live or visit unique. I actually get really excited finding stores, restaurants, and things to do tha...