Restoration as Calling's Mission
Mission
This blog exists to honor the quiet, redemptive work of restoration in all its forms, in Scripture and material culture and creation, and in the lives of students and communities. Rooted in Christian imagination and guided by practices of attentiveness, compassion, and care, this space seeks to illuminate the sacred within the ordinary. These writings grow out of lived experience, instructional research and a desire to honor what is fragile. My reflections are captured in this blog.
Join me as I share how mending what is fragile, whether it’s a worn Bible, a wounded animal or a weary heart becomes a way of participating and God's renewing work in the world. My mission is to cultivate a place where readers can recognize restoration as both a calling and a way of seeing feeling and to encourage a gentler, more reverent engagement with the people, creatures and objects entrusted to us.
(Photos) A note on imagery: The photographs on this blog are not decorative; they are part of the story. Each reflects a moment of restoration and serve as visual reminders that renewal is both spiritual and material, both ordinary and sacred.
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Our Impact
Restoration begins when we choose to show up with intention—healing what’s broken, strengthening what’s fragile, and becoming a steady presence of hope in our community.
About the Author
I grew up in a house where dogs slept under the table, birds chattered from their perches, cats claimed every sunlit chair, and tattered Bibles lived in quiet stacks along the walls of my father’s study. It was a place where nothing fragile stayed forgotten for long. Books, animals, photographs, people, everything had a story worth tending.
That early mix of creatures and paper led me down an unusual academic path of English Literature and two unforgettable internships at the National Archives and the Library of Congress, where I spent my days sifting through history’s dust and dodging the ghost of a former archivist that haunted the 6th floor of archives. Literature summoned me to complete a Master’s in Library and Information science and later a Masters in English. My faith however led me to Liberty University where I continue to follow the thread of restoration that runs through scholarship and faith.
Picture my workspace today: old books leaning like tired friends, restless middle schoolers, archival photos curling at the edges, paintbrushes in a jar, calligraphy quills drying on a cloth, and the memory of my grandparents’ sanctuary animals padding through the room. Life has always been a blend of ink, fur, feathers, and the quiet work of mending what is worn but beautifully sacred.
This blog is simply the place where all of that - Scripture, craft, study, and lived experience settles into words.
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Restoration as Calling: Empowering Communities
Welcome to Restoration as Calling!
“This blog began as a graduate assignment at Liberty University, but it has quickly grown into something larger, a living space shaped by the voices, stories, and reflections of its visitors. As it continues to evolve, it will take on a life of its own through the shared experiences and contributions of those who journey with it.”
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Introduction
Restoration as Calling Means Supporting Community
“Reverence begins in attention” –Marilynn Robinson
Restoration has been part of my life as long as I can remember. I grew up in a family where mending what was fragile was part of the daily rhythm. My father taught me the patient work of repairing Bibles, tending to torn pages, and the living word. My grandparents, mother and siblings cared for vulnerable animals, offering them safety and dignity. Later, I found myself teaching students who carried invisible burdens, and to see beyond surface behavior to their deeper needs. Years passed and these experiences felt separate, as if they belonged to different worlds. Only through reflection and instinctual researching did I begin to see the pattern God was weaving.
Peter Morville writes that human beings are “equipped to find meaning when we do not know exactly what we are looking for” (Morville 16). His insight describes my journey with surprising accuracy. I followed threads of curiosity, compassion, and craft, trusting the quiet pull of my Christian values. No planning, just heart led and over time, restoration surfaced as the unifying motif of my life. It was present in the books we repaired, the animals we loved and tended to, and the students I supported. It was present in Scripture, in the stories I loved, and in the work God was doing and continues to do in my own heart.
As I began to reflect more intentionally, I realized that restoration was not simply something I did, it was a way of seeing. It shaped how I approached brokenness, whether in objects, creatures, or people. It taught me to look for what could be renewed rather than what had been lost. This project explores restoration as a Christian practice, a way of participating in God's renewing work in the world and recognizing the sacredness embedded with acts of care.
“An angel statue rises with quiet elegance reminding us that the supernatural is beautifully near.”
Facets of Restoration
Restoration in Scripture
“Restoration was the path His word set before me, and only later did I realize the passion He wove into my heart was my calling.” L.St.Michele
Restoration in Material Culture
“The care of Scripture’s physical form has always been an act of reverence” -Sharpe & Van Kampen
Restoration in Creation
Restoration in Education
“In this sanctuary, cats living with feline leukemia are cherished, protected, and finally home—surrounded by comfort, dignity, and unconditional love.”
Restoration in Education
Restoration in Education
"Children heal when adults create spaces of safety, patience and dignity.” –Barbara Sorrels
Instinctual Researching
“Once wandering without a place to belong, now held close, found, and deeply loved.”
The Christian Imagination
“By imagination we see what is real but unseen.” –C.S. Lewis
Restoration as Calling
Where Stories of Renewal Find Their Voice
II. Restoration in Scripture
“Scripture forms the imagination by teaching us to see the world as God restores it.” David L. Jeffrey
Restoration is woven throughout the biblical narrative. From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells the story of a God who heals, renews, and brings life out of brokenness. The psalmist declares that the Lord restores the soul, offering comfort and guidance in times of weariness. Isaiah proclaims good news to the poor and liberty to the captives, promising that God will give beauty for ashes and the oil of joy for mourning (Isaiah 61:1-3). In Revelation, God announces that He will make all things new, wiping away every tear and ending sorrow forever.(Revelation 21:4-5). These passages reveal restoration not as a minor theme, but as a central expression of God's character.
David L Jeffrey describes Scripture as “a formative source of moral imagination in the Christian tradition” (Jeffrey xiii). His insight helps explain why restoration resonates so deeply with me. The Bible shapes the way Christians understand the world, teaching us to see brokenness not as the final word, but as. The place where God begins his healing work. Leland Ryken adds that the Christian imagination is shaped by grace and capable of perceiving God's redemptive activity in ordinary life (Ryken 12). These perspectives illuminate the spiritual foundation of my work. Scripture does more than tell stories of renewal, It trains the heart to expect it. The biblical narrative invites believers to view the world through the lens of God's ongoing restoration, recognizing that renewal often begins. In small, quiet ways, whether I'm preparing a Bible, comforting a frightened animal, or supporting a struggling student, I am participating in the larger story of God's renewal. Scripture gives language and meaning to these acts, grounding them in a tradition far older and deeper than my own experience.
III. Restoration in Material Culture
“The care of Scripture’s physical form has always been an act of reverence” -Sharpe & Van Kampen
My work as a Librarian and Archivist in the repair of books is one of the clearest expressions of this calling. But my earliest lessons in restoration came from my father's work with bibles. He taught me how to handle a worn Holy Book with reverence, how to repair a torn page without erasing its history, and how to stabilize the spine so the text could continue to be read and cherished. These practices were not merely technical, they were spiritual. Each repair honored the stories, prayers, and generations held within the book. Erica Anderson writes that Bible restoration preserves” the spiritual histories held within them reminding us that these objects carry deep emotional meaning for families and communities” (Anderson 9).
The history of Bible making reinforces this sense of sacred responsibility in the Bible as Book, Scholars describe the painstaking work of scribes and bookmakers who preserved Scripture through centuries of labor and devotion. Their craft reflects a long tradition of offering the physical form of the Bible as an extension of its spiritual significance. (Sharpe and Van Kampen 22). Even modern bookbinding companies such as Norris Bookbinding continue this legacy. Lynne Jeter notes that their work has served generations of Christians, preserving family Bibles that might otherwise be lost (Jeter 12).
When I repair a Bible, I am not simply fixing an object, I'm participating in a tradition of care that stretches across centuries. The work requires patience, attentiveness and respect for what is fragile. Reiken observes that “artistic creation demands A willingness to attend to what is fragile" (Ryken 45). That truth echoes through every restoration project I undertake. Each repaired page becomes a quiet act of devotion, a way of honoring both the text and the people who hold it dear.
Restoration and material culture reminds me that faith is not only expressing in words or ideas, but also in the ways we handle what has been entrusted to us. The physicality of Scripture, its pages, bindings and wear become a testament to the lives it has touched. To restore a Bible is to honor its journey and to ensure its witness continues.
IV. Restoration in Creation
“Compassion is the first step toward restoring the lives entrusted to our care.” –Allie Philips
My grandparents operated an animal sanctuary and their home was a place where vulnerable creatures found refuge. Growing up in that environment taught me that restoration extends beyond objects to living beings. Animals who arrived frightened or injured slowly regained trust through consistent care. Their healing was not only physical but emotional, shaped by gentleness and patience.
Theological reflection deepens this understanding. Kyle Greenwood argues that animal suffering does not contradict the goodness of God's creation, but instead reveals the brokenness introduced by the fall.(Greenwood 271). His perspective helps frame my work with animals within the larger biblical story of creation, fall, and redemption. Allie Phillips adds an ethical dimension by documenting the suffering many animals endurance systems meant to protect them. Her work highlights the need for compassionate intervention and the moral responsibility to care for vulnerable creatures (Philips 14).
Restoration and creation teaches that healing often requires presence more than expertise. Animals respond to consistency, gentleness and trust; qualities that mirror the way God tends to his people and caring for creation. I learned something about the patience and tenderness of God and want to live my life learning and serving others as much as I can.
V. Restoration in Education
“Healing begins when adults create spaces of safety, patience and dignity.” –Barbara Sorrels
Teaching Became part of my life gradually shaped by mentors who recognized my inclination toward it, and by personal experience. It taught me to see beyond surface behavior. Growing up alongside a sibling who struggled in ways others could not always see taught me patience, empathy, and the importance of looking deeper. These lessons prepared me for the classroom long before I realized it. Teaching students who have experienced trauma requires emotional resilience and spiritual grounding. Parker Palmer writes that good teaching flows from a place of integrity and inner wholeness, emphasizing the importance of vocation and renewal.(Palmer 10). His insights resonate with my experience. This is not merely the transmission of knowledge, it is a ministry of presence, a way of offering stability and encouragement to students who may not find it elsewhere.
In my second year of teaching, I designed TOP Dog Classroom, a system where kids keep track of their completed work, gaining points each day and week. I printed photos of local shelter dogs looking for a home, and every time they reached their daily goal, they could choose a shelter dog to put next to their name. At the end of the year, I had Animal Service Officers come to the school with shelter pets to educate the kids about the resources and how they could help. We had cake and a petting session. I was awarded a grant for my school to continue using TOP Dog to help kids learn.
Research supports this perspective. Merida-Lopez and Extremera demonstrate that emotional intelligence helps teachers remain resilient in the face of. Student aggression and stress (366). Barbara Sorrells adds that trauma informed teaching requires patience, consistency, and the creation of safe environments where children can experience dignity and healing (22). These Insights affirm that teaching is a form of restoration, one that requires both skill and compassion. Restoration and education is not about fixing students, but about creating conditions where they can grow. It is about seeing potential where others see disruption, and about offering steadiness where there has been instability. In this way, teaching becomes a way of participating in God's restorative work, one student at a time.
VI. Instinctual Researching
“We discover meaning by following the patterns that quietly draw us forward.” –Peter Morville
My path toward understanding restoration was not linear. It unfolded through instinctual researching, a process of following questions, curiosities, and values – and not always knowing where they would lead.
Morville's observation That humans are "pattern seeking animals” who discover meaning through exploration” captures this experience with clarity. (Morville 4). I followed the threads that tugged at my heart, trusting that God was guiding me even when I could not see the full picture.
Jeffrey's work on biblical tradition helped me understand that this process is not unusual. Scripture itself invites readers into a journey of discovery, shaping their moral imagination as they engage with its stories and teachings (Jeffrey xv). Ryken adds that the Christian imagination is transformed by grace, enabling believers to perceive God's redemptive work in unexpected places (Ryken 18). These insights helped me recognize that my instinctual researching was not aimless. It was a form of discernment, a way of discovering the callings God had placed in my life. Instinctual researching teaches that restoration often begins with curiosity, a quiet nudge toward something that matters. It is a way of listening to the world God made, trusting that the threads we follow will eventually reveal a pattern.
VII. The Christian Imagination
“By imagination we see what is real but unseen.” –C.S. Lewis
The Christian imagination plays a vital role in understanding restoration, but following one’s heart is key. Reiken argues that imagination shaped by faith allows believers to perceive the world through the lens of God's redemptive work (Ryken 30). From my heart’s perspective, these ordinary experiences transformed into opportunities for spiritual insight. Marylynn Robinson adds that Scripture and literature invite readers into deeper reflection, shaping their understanding of renewal and moral responsibility (Robinson 44).
These ideas illuminate the connections between my work with books, animals, and students. Each domain requires attentiveness, compassion, and willingness to engage with what is fragile. The Christian imagination helps me see these practices not as separate tasks, but as expressions of a single calling. Restoration becomes a way of seeing the world, a lens through which I understand my work and my faith.
Christianity Imagination invites believers to look beyond what is broken and to perceive what God is restoring. It encourages a posture of hope, attentiveness, and participation in God's renewing work through imagination, the ordinary becomes sacred and acts of care become acts of worship.
A Closing Benediction:
“May your heart be open to the fragile, your hands ready to weave a mend, and your steps inclined towards discovering what God is unfolding all around you.” –Lissette St. Michele
Thank you for visiting this site.
I would love to hear your thoughts and comments.
Works Cited
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Morville, Peter. Ambient Findability. O’Reilly, 2005.
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Seizure. Rowman and Littlefield, 2010.
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The Holy Bible. King James Version, www.kingjamesbibleonline.org.
Life is delicious when you have love.