Our firstborn was about to enter kindergarten. We had struggled and prayed and labored over the decision of where to send him to school. I was pregnant with our third child, who was due soon after school was starting. The idea of a public school where I could just drop him off and be done…
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…
I teach theology and Bible at Nyack College, a Christian school. I was a pretty run-of-the-mill vanilla prof until I found a passion for Christian history and liturgy. I soon realized a call to bring unity among the three Christian traditions (Orthodox, Protestant and Roman Catholic) through mutual understanding. That’s when I started teaching what…
How do internationals perceive the United States citizens’ negotiation of their multiple identities? Directing an international office at a graduate school gave me ample opportunity to hear fascinating comments made about foreign students’ perceptions of U.S. citizens. I decided to pursue their perceptions further in my doctoral research. Humans juggle multiple identities (e.g., religious, national,…
We love our boxes. They are handy compartments for our ideas and thoughts. They keep life simpler when we can put people into tidy categories that make sense to us. I traveled to half a dozen countries and lived in three outside my own before I really began to see just how impossible it is…
I sat at my laptop, thinking about the many ways I’ve changed by looking at the world through cultural lenses. One thing’s for sure: I couldn’t remain the same. I’ve experienced love from people who valued relationship over agenda, who wouldn’t hesitate to give up their plans for the day to spend time with me….
A simple cheddar cheese sandwich on white bread, purchased from a cart on the street near our hotel — this was my first meal in England circa 1984. Simple, yet wholesome, and perfect for a hungry college student just off her first international flight. There was something so familiar about that sandwich—just cheese and bread….
Not too long ago, President Donald Trump referred to the MS-13 gangs plaguing the United States and most of central America as animals. At least in my feed, I heard a great deal of righteous indignation with his use of the term, especially because he is referring to those who, while marred, are still created…
Life is hard for a prodigal. Their lives are filled with fear, failure and frustration. Yes, much of it is of their own making. Those who love a prodigal are also filled with fear, failure and frustration. In their efforts to rescue and restore those loved wanderers, they practice tough love, they set strict boundaries,…
Five years ago, I called a 302 on my son. A 302 indicates to the police that someone is either a harm to himself or others. It allows the authorities to search for him and admit him for evaluation though he might not be in possession of drugs or even doing anything particularly illegal. Police…
“We were filled with laughter, and we sang for joy. And the other nations said, ‘What amazing things the Lord has done for them.’ Yes, the Lord has done amazing things for us! What joy! Restore our fortunes, Lord, as streams renew the desert. Those who plant in tears will harvest with shouts of joy….
As I awoke on a sunny spring day in May, my mind felt cluttered. Deadlines loomed for my daughter’s home school materials to be completed in time for graduation. Paperwork still needed to be completed for submission to two different colleges. My father’s health issues demanded my attention and energy. Of course, the day to…
I am not funny. No one would ever describe me as “the girl who makes people laugh.” Yet, as an aspiring actress, I would often be cast in these whimsical roles. Not as Sandy in Grease, but “Jan” the Twinkie eating friend who makes everyone laugh. In college, as an overly self-assured Junior, I was…
“Someone needs to take out the trash. I can smell it from here.” Our daughter, the prima donna, diva ballerina shouted from the stairs as she rounded the corner to grab her bagel breakfast before heading off to high school. Claiming an extremely sensitive sense of smell, she regularly managed to opt out of this…