All posts by Johnna

I am a Christian educator and writer.I have worked in churches, denominational offices, and seminaries. I have a PhD in Theology from Princeton Theological Seminary, with a focus on Practical Theology and educating in faith. In 2010, my book, "How the Other Half Lives: the challenges facing clergy spouses and partners," was published by Pilgrim Press. I believe that words can build doorways that lead to encounters with God through the Spirit.
Biblical Reflection, John's Gospel, Meditation

I Am, I Am Not

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This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?” He confessed and did not deny it, but he confessed, “I am not the Messiah.” And they asked him, “What then? Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” Then they said to him, “Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” He said, “I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’ “ as the prophet Isaiah said. John 1:19-23, NRSVue

…tell us something – anything!- about yourself.” [John said] “I’m thunder in the desert: ‘Make the road straight for God!’ I”m doing what the prophet Isaiah preached.” John 1:23, The Message

John didn’t need to pretend to be what he was not – a Messiah or a prophet returned to life. It seems that being himself was enough, more than enough for John to say what he was put on the earth to say.

I am a voice crying out, thunder in the desert. Make the road straight for God!

All of us have a voice. All of us are a voice. The question is: do we know ourselves well enough, who we are and who we are not, to say what we were put on this earth to say?

Biblical Reflection, John's Gospel

Making Room

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In my Father’s house there are many dwelling places… (NRSVUE)

There is plenty of room for you in my Father’s home…(The Message)

In my Father’s house are many mansions…(King James)

The Greek word is monay – it can be translated as abodes, dwellings, staying places, places to abide. This comes right after Jesus tells the disciples that he is only with them for a short time, and that they will not be able to come where he is going. He’s talking about death on the cross, then returning to the embrace of God.

We all know what happened soon after this. Judas betrays with a kiss, Peter denies, the disciples scatter. They cannot go into death with Jesus. But, for the moment, they remain unaware; the thought of Jesus leaving without them is painful.

It probably made little sense to the disciples beforehand, this assurance Jesus gives them that he is going ahead of them, going to prepare a place for them, making room for them to dwell always in the embrace of God. When they were facing death themselves, it was a promise they could hold onto in the darkness of leaving life behind:

Someone who loves them is making room. They are expected. They will be welcomed into eternal relationship.

Just as wonderful: there’s room for others as well…

Row Houses by Colin Fredrickson
The houses are made of cardboard, wrapped in scripture, then painted.
Biblical Reflection, John's Gospel

Light

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In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was at the side of God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came into being through him, and not one thing came into being without him. In him was life, and the life was the light of all people. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it. John 1:1-5 (my translation)

It’s not the best shot in the world, and it certainly doesn’t match what the sky looked like the when I took this picture. But light in Vermont is different from light on the Massachusetts seacoast – stunning in a different way.

Light before Dawn

This light is over the same Green Mountain, the shot taken from the same back porch during the same season. How can light in the same place, illuminating the same terrain, seen from the same spot, be so very different?

Jesus the Word as a light in the darkness, as the light of the world, is an image at the very beginning of John’s gospel. I wonder if the illumination the Word reveals differs, depending on the vantage point and the time of life of the one who is blessed to behold him?

I wonder what the Light of the World looks like to you.

Biblical Reflection, John's Gospel

Picturing John

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Painting a Picture with his Words

Kelly O’Connell preached the sermon today at Christ Church in Plymouth. She centered it on Jesus’ words: I am the gate. And she mentioned in passing the many images that can be found in the Gospel of John. That got me thinking – perhaps it’s time to look at some of them. I am the way, I am the good shepherd, I am the truth, and so many more. I hope you take a look with me…

This begins the series Picturing John. For more information, click Picturing John above.

Meditation, observation

Inertia

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A busy couple of weeks and some dismal weather has interrupted my usual outdoor activity. I haven’t walked the half mile to the post office – or the half mile to the grocery and drug stores. I’ve caught up on some paperwork and correspondence, and read a couple of books. These are all good things, but all sedentary. Even though I value my outdoor time, I find that spending too much time parked on the couch leads to more time parked on the couch.The laws of physics apply to me: my body at rest tends to stay at rest.

Why is it that my life balance is so easily knocked over? It’s not as if I’m avoiding things I don’t like – I’m avoiding things I love because I’ve gotten used to not doing them. And it’s not just physical activity. If I skip my prayer time, my writing time, my connecting with friends and family time, it’s easy to drop them from my life pattern. It requires intention to start up again.

If I grow into my larger self, perhaps this will change. But, I haven’t achieved personal perfection yet. I’m still a work in progress, and it’s still work to return to a more balanced life. How about you?

observation

Turbulence

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Lack of sleep, an early boarding time, and ninety minutes of turbulence put a twinge in my lower back. A bumpy second flight, and the car trip home turned a twinge into real lower back pain: I Advil’ed up and avoided bending and lifting. Continued stretching, a heating pad, and an adjustment from a chiropractor had my back feeling better – not back to normal, but on its way.

It’s not the first time I’ve had lower back pain, and airplane turbulence isn’t the only reason for it. Stress, grief, exhaustion, and a lack of physical activity can lock my spine in a vise grip. Everything I usually do is affected until restorative sleep and gentle exercise loosen things up. I’m forced to put much of life on hold, and left to contemplate how my own actions and inactions had a major role in my sorry state. Then I get around to asking the big question: 

What needs to change?

I have no control over turbulence on a flight. I do have control over whatever internal turbulence is jolting my emotional life. When I forget this truth, a pain in the back shows up to remind me.

observation

What’s On the Inside

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Filler Stones

When my steps were built in the 1950’s, these rocks were used to fill the center. Over the decades, these rocks pushed on the brick stairs, weakening them until the mortar failed and they broke into pieces. The demise of the stairs began at their construction.

Looking at that huge pile of rocks makes me wonder: what’s inside of me that might be causing damage, pushing my inner life apart? Anger. Resentment. Disappointment. Jealousy. All these are inside me as surely as Joy, Gladness, Satisfaction, and Admiration are. Unlike the steps, I have a choice in what fills me, in what I retain inside myself.

Turns out, Mister Rogers was right: it’s what’s on the inside that counts – of me and of a set of stairs. Will I choose what is life-giving, or what will break me?

Tiny Mister Rogers
House Work, observation

Connected

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Laying the Granite Treads

The concrete pad was laid, an extra step constructed, then the bricks and cinderblocks put in place. All that was left was the treads. Because brick and granite priced out the same (bricks a cheaper material with a higher labor cost, granite a more expensive material with lower labor cost), we went with the granite. The eight pieces of granite used were beautiful, but heavy. Getting them to lay flat and aligned was quite a task. The seams were mortared, then it was just a matter of time for them to set. A day later, it was just a quick rinse with a hose to finish the job.

New, Safe, Welcoming

I doubt many people will pay much attention to the new steps. They aren’t remarkably different from the old ones. But noticed or not, they are an integral part of how we live and welcome the world into our home – and how we go out into that world. We are connected again, for our goings out and our comings in. And that is a gift.

In the next couple of years, we’ll take on the walkway. That will require skill beyond me or my husband, so our mason will be back. Sometimes, we need someone else to help connect us to the world outside the door – even if few visitors will ever notice the skill and effort that connection required.

What is important and necessary isn’t always obvious. Thank you, Brett Alden, for your work.

House Work, Meditation, observation

Work In Progress

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Necessary Supplies

The front steps finally gave up after seventy years of loyal service. They were falling apart, listing to the right, with one step separating from another. Beyond repair, they were removed Wednesday morning.

It’s important, this set of stairs that connects home to the world. It needs to be solid, not too slippery when rain and ice fall, and it needs to look like it belongs on the front of this 1950’s Cape.

It’s a lot of work, this clearing out what is no longer working, this replacing connections. It requires time and effort, and no small amount of skill. And it won’t last forever.

That sounds a lot like life…let’s take a look…

[Part of the Work In Progress series. Click the tab above for more information.]

Easter, Lent, Lent2026

What If?

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Christ is Risen! Death does not have the last word. So what now?

My mother thought that people didn’t find faith because they were afraid that God would ask them to die for that faith. That might be true for some. I’d bet that people are more afraid that God will ask them to live for that faith.

What would my life be if I lived as God’s beloved child?

What would my life be if I loved God rather than feared some kind of afterlife punishment?

What would my life be if I loved myself for the unique person I am, shortcomings and all?

What would my life be if I loved you for the unique person you are, shortcomings and all?

God. Self. And you, my Neighbor. What if…?

There’s no better time to live out that what if…