90days – 300 words a day

No more rocks.

On Easter Sunday, I picked up a rock. On Easter Monday, I thought, “pick up a rock every day.” Was it a voice from God? Was it brainstorming? Was it something else? I don’t know for sure. But I picked up a rock. Several stories made sense as I moved ahead with picking up a […]

by Jon Swanson

Giving away a piece of your life.

A few years ago, I took some small stones to a conference. They were from a little gravel path Nancy and I made in our backyard. I took them to the conference because I was going to see people face-to-face who I had only talked with online. They were tangible evidence that we had met, […]

by Jon Swanson

Setting down gratitude.

I’m sitting in my office at church on Sunday evening. Hope’s in the gym rehearsing for a worship time. Singing, praying, listening, laughing, being together. That’s what happens in these gatherings we have every few months. I’m grateful for them. My friend Lee leads us and works hard to not work hard. He creates space […]

by Jon Swanson

Personal stones of remembrance

Yesterday we talked about a pile of stones near the Jordan river. They were a conversation-starter for kids. But there was another pile as well. Joshua gathered some stones from the riverbank and made a pile in the middle of the river. Where no one would see them again. There is value in remembrance actions […]

by Jon Swanson

What’s with the pile of stones?

If you made a pile of stones this week, you may have gotten some questions, like “What do those stones mean to you?” It’s possible you changed the subject. It’s possible you told them that some guy in Indiana told you to make a pile of rocks. Or it’s possible that you said, I’m learning […]