Nicole’s e-Pistle

August 13, 2025

Greetings, Dear Friends,

By my calculations, I am now on a stretch of time (5 ½ weeks to be exact) in which I will not need to be away from my husband and kids or my church family! After so many weeks of traveling for various reasons, it is good to be home!

This past weekend, however, was a much-needed time to rest and regroup, along with four other ladies, in one of my favorite places on earth – Montreat, NC. Admittedly, we did not participate in the whole conference with its wonderful programming and small groups and breakout sessions and daily worship experiences. It was a chance to do something that many people, but especially women, rarely get to do. We spent time in each other’s company in which nothing at all was expected of us. We had almost nowhere we had to be at any given point. We could sip our coffee on the porch for as long as the mood struck us. There was time to read, time to knit or crochet, time to be silent, and time to laugh together. I even got a few minutes to put my feet in the ice-cold creek. While we did participate in the conference keynote on Saturday evening, led by Amy-Jill Levine, most of the weekend was filled with Sabbath rest!

I know well that we are all at different stages in our lives, and some of you are finally in a season of travel and finding time to relax at lake houses or at the beach. I am truly grateful to hear stories and see pictures of your adventures! I also know that it takes intentionality to rest, whether one has the time or must find the time. Wherever you are personally on life’s journey, take time to rest (and, by all means, please do not feel the need to apologize to me for missing a Sunday here and there). It is so important for our physical, mental, and spiritual well-being to rest, though it is not part of our culture as much as it is in other countries. (I would have no problem with a national two-hour siesta in the middle of the workday!)

Find something to do this week that brings you peace and joy. Float in the pool, lounge in the sun (in between rain showers), watch a good movie, sip a cup or glass of your favorite beverage… Breathe in the freshness of the summer rains before they shift to autumn winds, and know that whatever you choose to do, God is with you and loves you immensely! There will be time for work, and God knows there is plenty of work to be done, so be intentional about taking Sabbath rest as often as you can manage it!

Blessings and peace,