Posts by Joel Auge
Finding Hope
Hope. The word holds so much future promise, don’t you think? As defined by the Oxford dictionary, hope is a feeling of expectation and desire for a certain thing to happen. We can all relate to a sense of hopeful anticipation—a longing for a particular event to arrive. We may hope our kids thrive at…
Read MoreWhy Are Young People Leaving the Church?
We have a plethora of ways at our disposal to connect with people than we could have dreamed of having in the past. But I wonder about the quality and authenticity of our connections. I wonder about the number of face-to-face interactions and deeply-connected relationships we regularly experience. I wonder about the rising rates of…
Read MoreWays to Deal With Stress
They say don’t worry about things you have no control over—whoever they are. Don’t worry. Don’t stress. It’s all good. But is it? I’m not convinced brushing off our anxious thoughts is the best approach. There must be a better way. Better than working hard not to worry. Better than pretending things are okay when they’re not.…
Read More8 Ways to Cultivate an Attitude of Gratitude
Growing up, my British mum regularly encouraged us to show our appreciation to others. We were often nudged to say thank you when the occasion presented, precipitated by a gentle, what do you say? if we somehow managed to forget. We were frequently positioned at the dining room table to write thank you notes to…
Read MoreEmbracing Change
As we move into the fall, nature reminds us that nothing stays the same. During certain seasons of life, this sentiment is a welcome relief, but at other times change can be challenging, bewildering, and even painful. At such times, we wish for things to remain the same, long for the “glory days”, and may…
Read MoreThe Year of NO
We can’t be all things to all people. But, oh, how we try! It’s easy to get caught up in the expectations or demands of others. Performing, people-pleasing, and striving for praise can be exhausting and leave us feeling empty. It’s just as easy to think we can do it all, and for a time…
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