Jennifer K. Nichols
Writer, Spiritual Director, Teacher
Hello! It’s nice to meet you.
I have a hard time answering the question, “Where are you from?” While I grew up in West Texas, as an adult I’ve lived in seven different states. We’ve moved from the east coast to the west coast, and then found our way north. We lived in Minnesota for 17 beautiful years. In 2024, we moved south. Now I live in Alabama with my husband Joel and a joyful—exuberant(!)—Black labrador retriever named Kona. The truth is I’ve called a lot of different places home.
Because of all those moves I’ve had opportunity to learn a lot about myself that I didn’t know. I discovered I could survive, even embrace, bitterly cold days in a Minnesota winter. Now I’m embracing summer’s thick humidity in Alabama. I learned how to pay attention to the sky for bits of falling ash and watch the ridge lines for fires in California. Living in Washington, DC on September 11, 2001, I learned what it meant to be jolted by fear.
I’ve stood with my toes both in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, astonished at the way those steady waves soothed my raw grief in the aftermath of painful miscarriages. In Georgia, I melted at the sight of spring azaleas, tulips, and dogwoods in bloom, while also longing for Texas bluebonnets where I grew up. In every place I’ve called home there is longing and delight, fear and comfort.
All of these places are now a part of me. Each one holds memories, friendships, losses, and loves. Each place has its own rhythms, and I brought my rhythms into each one. Every time we move, I grow a little bigger inside. Everywhere we go I learn more about myself.
This is one reason why my favorite word is grow.
I have it mounted on a little green sign in my house. I gravitate to this word because of what it invites me into when I read it. I love growing older, growing faith, growing children, growing plants, growing friendships, growing puppies, and growing lists of places where I’ve been.
I love watching the light grow in the depth of winter. I am fascinated by the way prayer grows, changes, and opens up the older I get. To grow is to accept a process that unfolds and surprises. The word grow is an invitation into a journey—one that acknowledges that change is a part of life. It’s this journey, with all its accompanying opportunities and uncertainties, that I like to explore.
What journey are you on? What do you long for? Where is God inviting you to grow?
A Few Things I Love
Plunging my hands into garden soil and watching things grow.
And a farmer’s market overflowing with seasonal produce.
Books that help me see Love at work in the world.
And putting good books in the hands of children.
Safe tables and warm hospitality.
And a really good cup of coffee.
Walking without headphones.
And meeting my neighbors.
I love discovering beauty where I least expect it.
And, I love going to places that spark creativity, discovery, and wonder.
Why I write
I recognize that it is easy to move through life so quickly that I miss the invitations hidden within it.
Writing helps me notice.
Writing helps me remember.
Writing helps me pay attention to where God is present and at work.
My hope is that my writing creates a small space where others can do the same. Whether through my newsletter (Process Art), spiritual direction, retreats, books, or future projects, my desire is simple:
To help people notice and respond to God’s presence in ordinary life.
Stay Connected
If you feel a longing to notice where God is meeting you in your life, I invite you to subscribe to Process Art, my monthly newsletter.
Each month I share a reflection, a spiritual practice, a question to consider, a book recommendation, and an invitation to notice beauty in the life already unfolding around you.
