DIMMING THE DAY

The moon is out, the air has cooled, and you are ready for bed. You know that scrolling on your phone does not draw you toward sleep but adds to your worries. Power down your phone, take a breath, and begin to dim the day.

Research suggests that we should refrain from screens at bedtime. But it can be hard to give up social media and news without something to take its place. In these pages, author Jennifer Grant offers gentle meditations that help you direct your gaze away from screens and uncertainties and toward the natural world. Dimming the Day guides you to focus on the wonders of God's good earth, from the ordinary head of a dandelion to the exquisite beauty of a fractal.

Replace anxiety with awe, distraction with focus, and worry with true rest. Calm your mind and settle into stillness. It is time to dim the day.

Jennifer Grant is the award-winning author of picture books for children and books for adults. Her books include Maybe God Is Like That Too, Maybe I Can Love My Neighbor Too, and When Did Everybody Else Get So Old? Grant's work has appeared in Woman's Day, Chicago Parent, Patheos, and her.meneutics, and she is a founding member of INK: A Creative Collective. Grant holds a master's degree in English literature with concentrations in creative writing and critical theory from Southern Methodist University in Dallas. A lifelong Episcopalian and mother of four, she lives in Chicago with her husband and daughter.