I inwardly cringed at the question. She asked me: What are you passionate about in life? As a logic driven individual, I try NOT to be ruled by ‘passion’, because ‘passion’ can be dangerous – unpredictable, illogical, potentially damaging. Following ‘passion’ feels like losing control. I know it’s not always the case, but there you … More Is Self-Awareness Selfish?
I do not write this post for the sake of self expression. I write it because I know so many of you are familiar with aching loneliness. In my darker moments I was certain I was the only one feeling so utterly excluded. But this is a lie. If you think you’re the only one … More Behind Pulled Curtain and Through Torn Veil
Sierra Leone in February, Mexico in March. Phew! To any of you who travel regularly for your job or even for fun, I applaud you. It’s valuable, but hard. I enjoy travel, but love home. So I’m thankful to be here, typing away at my own desk in my own bedroom. After two missions trips … More Sustainable Gratitude
Do you ever end up in the same place you’ve been a hundred times? You kick yourself because you feel like you should have learned? You condemn yourself because you shouldn’t be here yet again? Me too. For me, that place is a place of uncertainty, indecision, anxiety and fear. I want to figure life … More Questioning My Answers
As jet-lag is leaving my body, my mental faculties are beginning to awaken once again. And I need all my faculties right now. Processing two weeks of life in a place like Sierra Leone requires it. Since many of you faithfully supported our team in your prayers, I want to be sure to share our … More How Was It?
Many people have asked me, over the last couple weeks, how I’m feeling about this trip to Sierra Leone. Excited? Yes. Nervous? Yes. But feelings are something I’m not so great at, so those two options seem only partially true. I have a hard time answering the ‘how are you feeling’ question in normal situations. … More Call Me Jonah
It’s partly the expression of my inner rebel; partly the rewards reaped from such an endeavor. This thing Cyrus and I did last year, having an UNword – a word we were diligent to delete from our vocabulary – well, we’ve found it to be a positive, beneficial, forward moving practice for us each individually … More Our UNword for 2019
My first instinct is to apologize for a late Christmas Greeting, but don’t you think this is a season meant to linger anyway? So, here is our family’s Christmas greeting to you (the digital version, since there was no paper version this year). We started a new tradition this Christmas season – puzzles! We worked … More Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!! Love, the Rettmann Family
The attack assailed me – swift and unexpected. I was turned the other direction, fortifying different strategic locations. A word. A thought. A deception. It sneaked in and lodged itself in a vulnerable and fatigued corner of my mind. Fiery darts robed in questions. Questions craftily construed by the Enemy. They say there are no … More Softer is Stronger
Her presence reaches beyond the bounds of her physical body. At least it seems from where I’m sitting, a few chairs over at our shared round banquet table. We share a table at dinner. We share a similar height and hair color. We share the role of mother and the desire for work for the … More Twisted Admiration
