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by Andrea L Walker As a new pastor, I was often questioned and challenged about who I was, where I came from, or whether I knew what I was doing. It was a constant struggle in a congregation that never had a woman pastor before. Of course, I had done my time in...

The Rev. Minna Bothwell As the calendar turns to a new year, many of us reflect on the past and make resolutions for the future. Among the many goals we might set, one stands out as both deeply personal and spiritually transformative: forgiveness. The practice of...

by Wanda Frenchman I was raised in a non-Christian, indigenous home by my Lakota mother and grandparents. We didn’t attend church. We did practice the Lakota ceremony, and I was taught at an early age about Tunkasila (tunkashila) or Grandfather the Creator. We prayed...

by Wanda Frenchman The National Day of Remembrance for Indian Boarding Schools in the United States is Monday, September 30. It originated in Canada as the National Day of Truth and Reconciliation in 2021 when the Government of Canada passed Bill C-5, making it a...

by Meredith Harber “Hi, do you have a rewards card with us?” This simple question from a store employee can feel like a question of welcome and inclusion when I can respond “YES!” Yet it can feel like a point of exclusion when I say “no.” Every time I’ve moved to a...

Content warning: Suicide is mentioned in this issue. If you or someone you know is in crisis or at risk for suicide, call or text 988 or chat online at 988lifeline.org. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline provides free and confidential emotional support to people in...

by Amy Waelchli One night, I quietly struggled to make it all fit in the small cupboard. On my hands and knees, matching each lid with the corresponding container, I marveled at the amount of reusable plastic butter containers, etc. I saved. Arranging them to be...

by Karris Golden A well-lived life includes difficult times. Each of us could make lists of horrible things we have endured. But I’m mad at myself when I give in to self-pity. Even in the worst times, I still have a lot of reasons to be happy. And I have learned that...

by Dr. Crystal L. Hall Here’s how you know this article is for you: You’re telling yourself that if you read your emails but don’t respond to them on your day off, you’re not “really working.” You tell yourself that if you take your vacation, you’ll be behind when you...

by Melissa Woeppel I live in Lindsborg, Kan., a small city of just under 4,000 people. The city is affectionately known to many as “Little Sweden, USA.” In the late 1800s, Lindsborg was settled by immigrants from Sweden, a history and heritage that continues today....