My story of relationship failure is about to be published in the book Everbloom: Stories of Deeply Rooted and Transformed Lives. I’m honestly not sure how I feel about it. Everbloom is a book containing the personal stories of female authors who form the group Redbud Writers Guild. It will be released on April 25. But, as a preview, Redbud has published an…
“When I was a kid, I impressed the neighborhood boys with my ability to lift cinderblocks, climb trees, and run fast; I was strong. But when I played dolls, house, or school with the girls, it was never about demonstrating strength. Strength was domination, force, or power, not cooperation, design, or instruction. So I became a strong woman as defined…
Tuesday morning, I had the fantastic opportunity to chat with Nyack College Alumnus, Zachariah Hummer and Ryan Baker, both dedicated youth ministers. They encourage youth ministers to not solely look at their jobs as stepping stones to be a “real” pastor later, but to invest in youth with all their hearts. They are really funny and relevant to many–I laughed…
It’s February 2nd, but it’s NOT Groundhog Day. It’s 40 days after Christmas, and though we’re looking around and wondering how much longer this winter will last, it’s NOT Groundhog Day. It’s February 2nd, 40 days after Christmas, and it’s the Feast of the Presentation, when we celebrate the day Jesus was presented in the temple (Luke 2:22-40). It’s a day to…
It was a cold early morning in 1993 when I got on the bus leaving my college campus. I was excited. I had paid money to go on this trip, and we were about to March for Life, as so many did yesterday. We filled that coach bus for what we thought was a really good and clear-cut cause and…
On the first day of classes, I taught on memory—why it’s important and what it does to us and for us. Lately, I feel like I can’t remember anything—lack of sleep with a three-month-old and a toddler will do that to you. But I was reminded of the transformative power of my ten-year journal. It changes me, even when my…
The highlight of winter is Christmas, isn’t it? The anticipation of a beautiful holiday, great movies, Christmas lights, Christmas parties and food, Christmas music—everything helps us dream of a white Christmas and make the steadily dipping temperatures bearable. Even Thanksgiving in its turkey-laden glory makes us smile and ignore November’s shorter days, longer nights, naked trees, and frosty ground. Leaves…
It was New Year’s Eve, 1995. I had just graduated from college that May and moved to Asunción Paraguay in July for my first adult job as a kindergarten teacher. It was summer in the southern hemisphere, and we were on summer break at a time when I was used to cold temperatures and piles of snow in my native New…
As I do most Advent seasons, I think about Mary, and meditate on Luke 1-2, where we find her story in detail. This year, I noticed something I’d missed before—Luke begins his gospel with 3 heroines and only one hero. In fact, the very beginning shows the doubt of Zechariah, a would-be hero who fails. First, the angel comes to…
I’m feeling anxious lately. I can read Advent blogs about joyful waiting, listen to the Christmas-music-only radio station, and truly desire the Peace of the season, but I find myself battling Christmas anxiety. It’s the quickened heartbeat, sweaty palms, itchy scalp variety of anxiety (yes, my scalp gets itchy when I’m anxious). And it’s so unwelcome. At my house, none…