JoAnn Downs Alo

Some Soul Care: Rest For An Anxious Mind

We all resist rest when our nerves get stretched. When our mental capacity has reached its limit. We’re bent over, almost breaking like a branch heavy with apples needing picking. Another hour, 2 more things, after this. Until our limbs quake with the weight of one more. Finished another draft of the memoir I’ve been…

Struggling With Blame? Read This

We all know how it feels when others let us down. From disappointment to betrayal, we wonder if that wound will ever heal. No one can take from you what only God can give. Your worth, your value, your joy, your happiness, peace, potential, your talent, your skill, not even your name. We brought nothing…

You Want To Fly But You Don’t Have Wings

When the grandkids come, we play a game we call Would You Rather. Would you rather be a whale or a penguin? Would you rather have a toothache or a sprained ankle? Occasionally for fun, we throw in this one, “If you could have a superpower what would it be?” I always say, I would…

When Church Hurts

I once thought hiding wrong, was right. We heard it as kids, “Just walk away. It’s not worth it.” And frankly, most of the time, it’s not. Turn a cheek, forgive, overcome evil with good—and that’s all true. But Jesus never said hiding wrong was right. He did say nothing is hidden that will not…

Here’s to Love: What Anniversaries Are Made Of

We were the least likely couple. And for good reason. In this picture, we walked out double doors thinking we held the future in our hands. Life was a party, and we were its guests. Six years in, I was the first to want to quit. On us, my kids, my life. Reality was hard….

Some Good News About Suffering

I couldn’t get how suffering was actually good for me. Of all the things I do in the name of strong and healthy, suffering never sounded vitally important. Take your vitamins, eat your vegetables, plenty of water, walk, rest, sunlight. But suffering? “Though He was a Son, yet He learned obedience by the things which He suffered.” Hebrews 5:8 My…

The Unfathomable Grace of God

We’ve been empty nesters for a while now. Sold our business last June. Sold hunting property right after Christmas. We thought to move. A new home, a fresh start. We’ve wanted to do something just the two of us. Together. He ran the company, he hunted the property. We were hungry to run and hunt…

Flowers In The Desert

My kid called from the Mohave Desert. (And I’m not speaking metaphorically.) Tent up, flapping in the desert breeze. Backpack and bottles strewn about like her bedroom used to be. Her skin freckled & parched from trekking 130 miles in the heat. It’s her third leg hiking the 2,650-mile PCT. A photo chirped my phone…

Spirit Born & Winning the War

One of the hardest things is not knowing what comes next. Especially when threats reach our doorstep. Generally, lists have a way of herding our steps. Whether on paper or written in our heads, patterns and boundaries seem to drive the hours. Plans, reservations, appointments. What’s on the schedule? What’s not on the schedule? Then…

How Fearing God Takes The Fear Out Of Everything Else

Making the appointment felt like a death sentence. Admitting my shaky sensitivities to, of all people, a psychiatrist. An untrustworthy, over-confident, judgmental, intellectual. He was going to tell me how hopeless I was. Look at me like a weak old woman. Send me out limping on both hips. Feeling worse than when I went in….