Author: Kristen West

  • Feeding & Squawking

    I was minding my own business. Just sitting on my front porch sipping my coffee. What I thought would be a quiet, relaxing atmosphere was quickly punctured as I was auditorily accosted by two very angry wrens. Perched high above me from opposite ends of my elevated porch roof, they were taking turns squawking at…

  • Mental Clutter

    We all do it. In the hustle and bustle of our day to day activities, we throw things in closets or drawers, pile stuff on counter spaces, or toss things into random nooks and crannies thinking, “I’ll get to that soon.” Days turn into months.  Months grow into years.  Suddenly, we realize these catch-all spaces…

  • Everyone Includes Me

    I was never very good at debate. In school, I recall cringing at just the thought of it. Not because I couldn’t master the art of a particular topic or speak clearly about something I was passionate about. It was more because interrupting, talking over one another, and attempting to be the loudest voice in…

  • Not My Job

    I’m so grateful I don’t have the Holy Spirit’s job. It’s a real struggle to remember that sometimes. There have been many occasions when I’ve tried to give Him a hand and help Him out only to fail miserably in my human attempts. I can’t change anyone. None of us can. But that’s not always…

  • Rest Well, My Friend

    I just couldn’t use it anymore. It was too fragile. The cover was tattered, pages had fallen out, and the binding had collapsed more than a decade ago. It was my first Bible, given to me in 1986 when I initially became a Christ-follower. Laying it to rest in the drawer of my nightstand felt…