by Collette Broady Grund Do you ever have those moments when you reflect on your life and think, “This is not where I thought I’d be!” I’ve been having a lot of those moments lately, and I have to say, God has been in them all. Earlier this year I was (I thought) a happily […]
by Sarah S. Scherschligt I lived in a rural village in Malawi, East Africa, as a Peace Corps volunteer in the late 90s. There, I experienced the power of communal lament. When someone died, the women in the community would stop everything and start to wail. They would bawl for hours. Neighboring villagers could hear […]
by Elizabeth McBride Well, the last 10 months of 2020 have been a doozy. We’ve seen the devastating effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, long-standing racial inequalities, and police brutality. And the list continues. We have grieved over the loss of beloved family members and friends, jobs, and for some, our patience as we tried to […]
by Joy McDonald Coltvet And a voice came from heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.” And the Spirit immediately drove him out into the wilderness. Mark 1:11-12 Jesus is baptized and named the Beloved and then is immediately driven to the wilderness. Comforting or disturbing, this is life. […]
Emily Carson In challenging times, where do you go for comfort and support? An increasing number of people are turning to various forms of social media to both give and receive encouragement during the ups and downs of life. A death in the family, an illness, a fractured relationship. These are all experiences that leave […]