1 - Beneath the Crisis - Can You Feel That?

A holy invitation

What if the longing you feel today is the same pull that led a little-known woman named Lydia to bold faith 2,000 years ago? And what if her story and leadership could still help us now? Skeptical? Yeah, I was, too. But this serial book called The Lydia Effect is my yes to those questions, and an action-oriented guide to how one small yes can make a difference in times like these.

And, what times these are. The world grows more chaotic, fueling anxiety, loneliness, even despair. The weight of fear and uncertainty can feel like a vice. So many of us are struggling, even unraveling. It’s tough.

As we attempt to brace for the external world’s many crises, have you noticed there is an inner crisis too? Underneath the fray, maybe you feel and see what I see—we long for something deeper. We crave belonging and purpose.

Without purpose and a shared story, we are untethered from ourselves and each other. We lost the thread.

The hunger is everywhere, like a chorus not yet singing together. I read it on Substack, hear it on podcasts and YouTube in conversations with scientists, pastors, yogis, and counselors. I see it in how people are searching, even grasping, to fill the hole inside their hearts with the wrong things. Although we may not all admit it yet, we know deep down our problems are bigger than human-sized.

During the pandemic, I felt the longing for meaning in the unraveling, the anxiety, and the desperate search for stability. And I asked the same questions then that so many are asking right now: Where can I find the truth? Where can I find hope? And, since I am so action-biased, what can I do?

So, I did what I’ve always done when searching for answers: I dug deep. My soil scientist instincts guided me way beneath the surface, and this time, I found more than rocks and minerals. I found good news. Really good news, for us right here, right now.

Something below the surface is stirring and swelling, like a seed about to germinate. Our hearts are crying out for something real and for the Divine. Bible sales are increasing, there are high-profile conversions to Christianity, and faith is flooding podcasts, social media, and unexpected spaces. Even the polarization and fear reveal one truth: we are craving something solid and unchanging in a world where change itself is accelerating.

This craving isn’t random. That hunger is our holy invitation—a call back to ourselves as humans and to renewal. And yes, to God.

Let this hopeful possibility sink in. Are you curious? Maybe you don’t call it faith, but have you felt it? That restless ache and pull toward something more?

Well, I sure don’t have all the answers—in a complex system like we are in, no one does (and don’t believe anyone that says they do). But I do have a story about the journey of my faith unfurling in the messy world. I have a story about how personal renewal deepens and strengthens when we share it—through honest conversations, shared prayers, and the presence of others walking their own journeys of faith. I have a story about how one small yes adds up when we connect our hearts in courage.

On this journey, I dug down below the individualism and identity issues to discover how much we need each other. I found how much my heart longed for rest and belonging with other women journeying also. And, with Lydia’s story as my inspiration, I discovered contagious courage and how our joined hearts change everything.

Despite our best efforts to avoid it, we are still human and we still need each other. And that means, our faith journeys need a welcome home to share with others.

Next chapter - 2 Identity Crisis Anyone?

I have a story, but I also have tools. This section in each post will be for creating space in your own heart, mind, body, and maybe even your home or community to process and step into your own story.

I also suggest keeping a journal during this journey so you can stop and soak in the concepts and ask your heart some important questions. Our hearts need some attention, so each Creating Space section is designed to give your heart some space to be heard and cared for (example, One Sacred Minute). Here’s something for you to journal about or discuss with a friend before the next chapter.

Reflection Prompts

• When you pause for a minute, what do you feel stirring underneath the noise?

• Are you finding it hard to balance the fear about what’s happening in the world and hope for something more?

I also recommend The Buddy System — reading with a friend so you can talk about each chapter.

• For the next week, pay attention to what’s happening around you—not just the noise, but the deeper longing beneath it. Where do you see people searching for meaning in their own lives and in the world?

• Watch for moments in your day where you sensed something beyond the crisis—a moment of connection, insight, or clarity.

• Do you have a friend or two you can start a conversation with to process what is happening?