Courage
whispered the autumn leaf
He,
born of spring’s budding hope
commissioned for summer’s verdancy
yet most glorious in decline
Courage
urged the autumn leaf
As he,
in trust and gratitude
released his hold once, and for all
surrendered into the wind
and fell
Catherine McNiel is an author, writer, editor, and speaker searching for the creative, redemptive work of God in our ordinary lives. She writes to kindle conversations that mingle theology with real life, and open eyes to God’s ongoing presence in our world.
Catherine lives in the Chicagoland area with her husband, where they care for three kids, two jobs, and one enormous garden. Catherine has studied and taught Intercultural Studies and Theology, has an MA in Human Service Counseling, and is working on a Master of Divinity at North Park Theological Seminary. Her books include Fearing Bravely: Risking Love for our Neighbors, Strangers, and Enemies; All Shall Be Well: Awakening to God’s Presence in His Messy, Abundant World; and Long Days of Small Things: Motherhood as a Spiritual Discipline which was an ECPA finalist for New Author. Catherine is a sought after writer and speaker; her work has been featured by numerous magazines, websites, churches, and ministries.
She’s on the lookout for wisdom, beauty, and iced coffee.
“If I hear, ‘You have such a pretty face’ one more time, I am going to scream. Really. It won’t matter who said it and it won’t matter where I am. I am simply going to scream.” Jemma cradled her old school, low tech, corded landline phone in the crook between her shoulder and cheek….
The past paralyzes, and the future is unknown. My calendar captures future events as my “to-do” list increases with things I should have done yesterday. In the meantime, social media drags me down in the game of “what if”: The world will come to an end if democrats win, and the world will go to…
Fifteen-year-old Adriana Nicu lives in the sheltered world of Bucharest, Romania, in the year 1987. Under the rule of Communist president Nicolae Ceaușescu, citizens of Bucharest live with the eyes and ears of the government ever present. Adriana’s future, which will involve becoming an engineer, is locked in against her will. During a visit to…
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…
She lost all her memory in drops of misplaced keys forgotten bills a disconnected phone. Her makeup grew heavy. Pristine eyeliner, now charcoal cakes stacked on summer tan base, claret jacket, mauve sweater out of season. “You’ll need to wrap your neck now that it’s starting to turn cold, dear.” As we inch into April….
(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…
“yet most glorious in decline”–that’s going to stick with me, Catherine. I needed that today. Thank you very much for your words.