Ina, etsi, shi maa, itangu. These are some of the ways I’ve heard indigenous people say, Mother. These are in the languages of just a few of the Indigenous people of North America, more specifically Lakota, Cherokee, Navajo, and Hopi, in that order. As a Lakota woman, I grew up using ina and unci (grandmother), but […]
by Sarah Carson For as long as I can remember, there have been two places I’ve turned when things get challenging: 1) to my faith, 2) to poetry. As someone who grew up in church, I’ve learned prayer can be powerful when I have questions, doubts, and even anger. It can be a way to […]
by Amy Waelchli When I think about the state of the environment–all the facts, figures, predictions, and failures–I’m completely immobilized with fear. Scientists have been issuing warnings and admonitions to get our acts together for a while now, and we’ve ignored these modern-day prophets. What can one little person do to make a difference? I […]
In the university town where I live, there’s a new club dedicated to what might be this moment’s most celebrated cultural phenomenon. Members of the Taylor Swift Club get together to listen to music and bond over a shared appreciation for all-things-Taylor. “Music tends to have a deeper meaning,” freshman Abby Snelling told the university […]
by Sarah Carson There is a wealth of scientific data in support of the power of a story to make a difference. Storytelling has demonstrated benefits across disciplines—from treating survivors of abuse and trauma to helping students learn more effectively to selling us things we don’t need. Interestingly, it’s not just that a story itself […]
by Emily Carson Jesus consistently stepped into tense situations rather than tiptoeing around them. He didn’t avoid difficult interpersonal dynamics; he embraced them and recognized that tension is often a catalyst for transformation (of people and systems). Tension can be defined as the state of being stretched. We can experience it individually, and it also […]
by Emily Carson The room was silent for a long time before the first council member spoke up. “No one here seems to be getting along anymore. There’s so much gossip. Something needs to change.” There were many pauses that evening as church council members took turns digging deep and sharing openly. Rather than continuing […]
by Jennifer Hackbarth Our bodies work hard to maintain homeostasis, a state when all bodily systems are functioning in balance. No matter the temperature of our environment, our internal body temperature needs to stay within a fairly narrow range; if it goes too high or too low, we can get sick and even die. We […]
by Jennifer Hackbarth I transitioned from a long-term congregational call to interim ministry in the winter of 2022. Over the past year and a half, I’ve served three congregations as an associate interim pastor. Going from a thirteen-year call to jumping between congregations every six months has taught me how fun transition can be and […]
by Kristen Kuempel I am going to be straight-up honest here: I am the absolute worst person to be asked to write an article on loving yourself. Instead of writing them, I should just paper my house with articles written by others in the hopes that I would absorb some of their wisdom through osmosis. […]