It’s always darkest before the dawn, at least, that’s what they tell me— “Each new day brings resurrection.” But to get there, we must always move through the dark. There are gifts to be found in darkness. That, too, is true: Rest, coolness, quiet. But terrors hide out in its creases and folds, ever ready […]
Who Will Pluck My Chin Hairs?
by on April 11, 2019 Leave a Comment
My mom and I once made a solemn vow: If either of us is ever in a coma, we promise to pluck one another’s chin hairs. My petite, five-foot-tall mom once grew out a single hair to see how long it would get. The coarse black hair spiraled below her chin until my brother and […]
God, Keep Liberating Us
by on April 1, 2019 Leave a Comment
lib·er·ate libəˌrāt/ (verb) set (someone) free from a situation, especially imprisonment or slavery, in which their liberty is severely restricted set free, free, release, let out, let go, set/let loose, save, rescue * * * When I turned 50 almost two years ago, something significant shifted in the deep places of my heart. I realized that […]
This Business of Aging
by on March 21, 2019 Leave a Comment
At every age and stage of my life, there have been specific words that triggered something in me—sometimes that something looked like resentment or strong disagreement, even a visible feistiness. More often, however, the clearest emotion rising from specific words or phrases has been . . . shame. During my growing up years, any reference […]
Kneading Enough, A Picture of Empowerment
by on March 7, 2019 Leave a Comment
Then Jesus asked, “What is the kingdom of God like? What shall I compare it to? It is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his garden. It grew and became a tree, and the birds perched in its branches.” Again he asked, “What shall I compare the kingdom of God to? It […]
