My American, suburban eyes view the world through lenses seemingly crystal clear. Decades of travel, however, have revealed the heavy tint on my lenses. When experiencing a new culture, I tend to compare people and circumstances with my own everyday norms. I am not alone in my lens-tainted version of the world. From sipping morning…
“Good morning!” I greeted a new family as they walked into our church lobby. “Hello!” They paused, and introductions continued. “Are you new in the area?” I asked. “Oh, no, we’ve been here nearly ten years. But we’re looking for a new church.” The wife lowered her voice and leaned toward me. “I helped with…
You move along a sidewalk in a busy city. You can see your breath with each exhale into the winter air. A homeless man comes into view leaning back on the building ahead. Do you… a) Avert your eyes and keep walking?It’s as if not seeing him, makes him not real. b) Drop a few…
(Adapted from a true story…) Yesterday, my neighbors had a baby. A baby girl. I’ve never seen a more beautiful child. That may not sound so amazing, but this family has been through… well… way too much. They had more than their share of problems. (I’m in awe of the dad, and the way he…
My name is Kaole. I live in a small village in southern Africa. I am the youngest girl in my family. I don’t remember my older brothers. They died before I was born. But my sister was around for a while. She was about 14 when she married and moved away. Death has always been…
(continued from A Child’s Loss: Part 1) My sister died on a Wednesday, I think. Not long after … her husband passed away. He died on a Wednesday, too. Isn’t that odd? Yes, death has always been a part of my life. I decided to leave my sister’s village and go back home to Mama’s….
The moment is seared into my brain, not unlike a branding iron on a young calf. It was November 2010. Although, actually, it had started the year before at a conference for youth workers… “Don’t waste your words,” the speaker had uttered in that dramatic-almost-whisper that speakers do to make a point. “You have experiences from…