by Lisa Heffernan Most of the time, I hate my feet. They’re tiny, have terrible circulation, get puffy sometimes, and I had a wound on one of my toes that stuck around for almost six years. As a paraplegic who was born with spina bifida, my relationship with my feet and legs is just strange […]
by Meghan Johnston Aelabouni “New Year, New You!” Every January, this phrase pops up in ads for gym memberships, in magazine articles featuring ten easy steps for money management or relationships, and even in churches whose members are urged to recommit to faith in the new year. For some, the new year is a symbolic […]
by Becca Ehrlich When I was growing up, my family and I had the annual tradition of trimming the Christmas tree together. We would put Christmas music on, drink hot chocolate, and systematically take the ornaments out of storage and place them on the tree. Some of the ornaments could be hung by anyone who […]
by Angela T. Khabeb re·gret /rəˈɡret/: a feeling of sadness, repentance, or disappointment over something that has happened or been done. What if you encountered a powerful and benevolent genie who could grant you one do-over of your choice? Would you consider going back in time and doing something differently? I don’t know about you, […]
by Jenna Pulkowski I have a confession to make. As I write this, I am so darn tired. And while part of that’s because I didn’t sleep well last night, another part is that everything around me feels like it’s always rushing. I live in Chicago, so there are always people, vehicles, and activity wherever […]
By Angela T. Khabeb “Now in Jerusalem by the Sheep Gate there is a pool, called in Hebrew Beth-zatha, which has five porticoes. In these lay many invalids–blind, lame, and paralyzed. One man was there who had been ill for thirty-eight years. When Jesus saw him lying there and knew that he had been there […]
by Rozella Haydée White Isaiah 58 provides an alternative view of something that the people of Israel thought they were good at–worship. It becomes clear that their understanding (read: our understanding) of what true and authentic worship was (read: is) did not line up with God’s desire. It uses the practice of fasting as the […]
by Angela Denker My favorite Bible passage about time is found in John 7:1-6. It tells about the time when Jesus’ friends went, reluctantly, to a festival without him. They told him he should come, but he told them to go without him. “My time has not yet come,” he said. Maybe it’s because I’m […]
by Sarah Scherschligt Then Jesus called the twelve together and gave them power and authority over all demons and to cure diseases. And he sent them out to proclaim the kingdom of God and to heal. He said to them, ‘Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money — […]
by Angie Shannon During my grade-school years, the bulletin boards were covered with red cupid silhouettes announcing Valentine’s Day. I took great care in selecting boxed Valentines for my classmates, addressing each tiny envelope in anticipation of the big day. In retrospect, it occurs to me that we had the kind of parents and teachers […]