You never noticed it before. Maybe you’ve been looking at this thing or this person for years. Suddenly, someone points out a detail that you missed . . . something obvious, like a symbol hidden (in plain sight) in a logo, how a particular mannerism reminds you of someone. And now you can’t unsee it. […]
Yearly Archives: 2020
A First Grade Teacher, Steph Curry Sneakers, and God’s Weird Presence
When Luke was in the first grade, he was obsessed with Steph Curry (actually, he still is – he’s going into fifth grade and has a life-size “Fathead” of Curry on his bedroom wall). He wanted a pair of Under Armour high tops with Curry’s signature saying “I can do all things” written on the […]
“Girl, do you not know ANYTHING about black people?”
In the summer of my Junior year in high school, I attended a “Journalism and Mass Communication” summer camp at Chapel Hill, and my roommate was a black girl named Celia – she was really fun and we hit it off right away. During our time together, I ended up asking her all sorts of […]
I Met A Very Dangerous Person
Turns out, authentic love is deadly to fear and bias – it puts certitude and apathy in danger. And I met someone dangerous (in the best possible way). From the very beginning, Reverend Karen Safstrom had a big impact on me. I had never been part of a church that allowed women to preach, so […]
The Lent’i’est Lent
Well, I don’t know about you, but this has been the “Lent’i’est” Lent that I’ve ever experienced. Excuse my lack of decorum, but Holy Week is currently intermingled with some holy s&%# emotions, making this year, well, memorable. I’ve only been observing Lent for about 5 years (when we started going to an Episcopal church) […]
Dale Riddle – A Birthday Tribute: The Power of a Picnic and a Portrait of Fearless Faith
My Dad is on the cusp of his 75th birthday. He has always believed he would die young. He’s had this “imminent death” expectation for as long as I can remember, which was a little mystifying as a kid, but now that I am an adult, I can appreciate it. My Dad has always talked […]
Confessions of a Former Church All-Star
When Keith and I first started dating, he used to joke that I was a “church all-star” because I was involved in so many different churchy things. Through the years I have worked with youth, taught Sunday school, sung in choirs and on worship teams, facilitated Bible studies, hosted small groups, helped with vacation Bible […]