God can and does use all things, even deadly pandemics like COVID-19, to bring about good things; beautiful things that give us renewed hope. Romans 8:28 states this truth clearly: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose…
It is better to be kind than to be right. In a world where you can be anything, be kind. Practice random acts of kindness. There is no shortage of the admonition to be kind in today’s culture. There are T-shirts, Instagram feeds, and even whole movements dedicated to spreading kindness. Yet, in apparent…
A few years ago I had one goal for the upcoming year in Djibouti and it was, at first glance, a simple goal. I aimed to not be mean. Put positively, I aimed to be nice. Kind. Sweet. Like I said, not mean. At that point, I had lived for nine years in the Horn…
As kindness is a fruit of the Spirit, how can Christians better demonstrate this in our daily lives? Do No Harm, But Take No Crap… Viewed through the lens of one made in the Image of God (Imago Dei), that is a Christian value. Christian practice historically accepts offense without complaint as a demonstration of…
My tween eyes followed its four-foot journey towards the cashier with more suspicion than curiosity. “Who’s THAT for?” I interrogated. She plucked the mitten-hat combo off the rack and sent it down the conveyor belt with the Beef-a-Roni and cantaloupe. This fuzzy ensemble wasn’t me, and I prepared to wield my fashion veto power. “Not…
“The Lord Almighty grant us a peaceful night and a perfect end. Amen.” I begin again through the Compline liturgy, trying to integrate this ancient practice into my bedtime routine. Praying through these lines each night is new to me, a nod toward the start of a new year and a hope to ward off…
I looked around the room at the 12 brave young people who had shown up for a field trip to the local community college. Occasionally in my work as a high-school substitute teacher, I am assigned the special education “Transitional Academy” for students who are no longer in high school but have been mandated an…
When I was born, my Auntie Lin gave me a wall hanging inscribed with my name, its meaning, and a verse plucked from Proverbs 31: “She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness” (31:26 KJV). It was the first verse I learned by heart, the calligraphy staring out…
There’s a gradual uncoupling that occurs when a marriage comes to an end. Coworkers may notice the woman who begins more sentences with “I” than “We.” Invitations once accepted are now turned down. Churchgoers may notice that a previously coupled person now attends services alone. Chances are that by the time such things are noticed,…
Yesterday is gone and cannot be repeated. Tomorrow has not arrived and cannot be predicted. Yet, there are times when I find myself trying to relive yesterday and jump into tomorrow. The pendulum of my mind swinging back and forth between the two—wishing I had done something differently in the past, while trying not to…
I remember how I would pause with my morning coffee. I wrapped my hands around the body of my mug, the curve of the handle the perfect size through which to lace my fingers. I noticed the smooth pottery, the way it felt as the warmth pressed into my hands on the crisp morning. I…
As Hurricane Laura pounded the coasts of Texas and Louisiana, I thought about the gale-force winds that have blown through my life. I have lived through several hurricanes, even though I am a resident of New Jersey. One was so devastating that my young family was without power for 11 days and had to be…
What did you do during quarantine? Since we all had to act like hermits during the coronavirus pandemic, I decided to tackle my closet. As I sorted through much-loved outfits and unworn clothing, I tossed out rejects, sewed on missing buttons, and rediscovered favorite items that had been buried in the tangled mess of clothes….
I really don’t consider myself a generous person, but maybe that’s because when I think of generosity, I’m usually thinking about money. But we can be generous with other things as well. And one thing we all have is time—a precious commodity. Too often, we tell ourselves we need to hold onto things, time included….