christmas was as close as i came to jesus as a child. i wasn’t told the story. there wasn’t a countdown to the manger in my house. i didn’t hear about the blessed virgin turned away at the inn ad nauseum. instead my brother and […]
“do not let your hearts be troubled. believe in god, believe also in me.” a few weeks back i took a risk. i have a precious friend. maybe you have one. i say precious because you feel the luck when you’re with them. they are […]
my daughter told me i have a beautiful heart and that i needed to keep my peace, keep my calm, so the morning after the election i ended up at a yoga class. the instructor arrived and unlocked the door. she was a young black […]
i like voting. i like being anonymous and alone in a voting booth. i like how quiet it is and how no one else can come in, look over my shoulder and tell me who to vote for. i like the polished gymnasium floors i […]
i went to a wedding last month. the church was in the middle of nowhere. mazzy and i drove miles and miles through fields of corn and vineyards. the western side of michigan has vineyards. rows and rows of grapes waiting to be turned into […]
that will shakespeare really knew what he was saying. “And summer’s lease hath all too short a date.” ain’t it the truth? i decided that summer is like one long day and by mid-july i knew that the evening was coming on. i told someone […]
they put her in a white robe. it was her birthday. eight years old. it was easter and she had decided to get baptized. i don’t know what to think about baptizing an eight year old. can a child really understand the decision that they […]
there’s this part in the bible. i think it’s in the old testament somewhere. it’s god talking to his people. he says that when they get to the promise land, when they get everything they want – even more than they ever knew they’d possess, […]
writing is ministering, pastoring, chaplaincy. i come to you and trace my scars with a fingertip. i show you the map of me and at the same time you see that i’m healed up now, that i’m still here, that i’m okay. and so are […]
the snow started coming down and eleanor wanted to build a snowman with her dad. she waited patiently. she let her wishes be known. she left the request on her father’s ear. we were busy. abe had a dance on friday night. saturday was special […]