by Rebecca Boardman December holds the darkest of days. For some, this is fearful. Others wrap every surface with artificial lights to have more light around them. For us, let it be a gentle reminder to slow our rhythm and listen to the quiet of creation around us. God speaks in darkness, too. In this […]
by Emily Anne Carson During Advent, we welcome the illuminating power of the light of Christ. Jesus’ presence reveals God’s infinite compassion even in life’s greatest challenges. The four weeks of Advent provide a special season in which to reflect upon the impact of the Light in all areas of life – especially in the […]
by Clare La Plante I have worked on and off for years as a financial journalist. And I learned as I wrote. In fact, writing about one hot-button topic — credit card debt — helped me to avoid that particular financial heartbreak. I waited until I was about 30 to get my first credit card, […]
by Erin Strybis Just one more basket of laundry, then I’ll go work out. Sun spills through the blinds of my son’s room as I sit cross-legged folding toddler-size pants and shirts. Head pounding, I gaze at the dog, sprawled out on the colorful carpet. But what I could really use is a nap. Instead, […]
by J. Dana Trent I am a migraineur, a fancy term for people who sometimes feel as though ice picks are being driven into their brains. Nearly 38 million Americans suffer from migraines, creating a multibillion-dollar industry to treat them. My migraines can be caused by anything: light, food, smells, weather changes, hormone fluctuations, too […]
by Kristen Glass Perez Recently, I received a request from a friend who is an expert in her professional field. She wanted to share that she was quoted in a national publication via social media, but felt awkward posting it herself. She asked me to post it for her. I was happy to do so. […]
by Ralen M. Robinson I wish there were more hours in a day. Recently my life has consisted of scattered sticky notes full of memos, sleepless nights and a to-do list longer than the eye can see. These past few months, I have been running from one place to another with too few breaks. I […]
by Elizabeth Hunter Something happened at church—probably three Ash Wednesdays ago—that got me thinking about scars. After the imposition of ashes, our family began trooping back to the pew. But my youngest child stopped me in the middle of the aisle, gesturing for me to bend down. “People are staring at my face,” he whispered […]
by Lisa Heffernan Just about every Sunday morning, three men from a nearby group home for adults with disabilities come to worship at the congregation I serve. Accompanied by their carer for the day, they enter the sanctuary and say hello to the ushers and me before picking up bulletins and taking their places in […]
by Meghan Johnston Aelabouni My six-year-old daughter Natalie is like a lot of first graders: equal parts serious and silly, old and young. She often comes home from school full of newfound wisdom to share, as though she were the first person ever to discover subtraction or photosynthesis. . . and she still plays with […]