“The Lord had closed Hannah’s womb.” Her barrenness was not accidental. Year after year she was provoked by Peninnah, her rival. She wept. She would not eat. She was deeply distressed and bitter in soul. How many times have I been warned about bitterness taking root in my heart — only to sink deeper into […]
In middle school, I was assigned to write a short story. I must have mentioned it to my dad. I remember him leading me into his bedroom — the room that was always locked, always shut. It felt forbidden. There was a bathroom no one was allowed to use, a secret closet with, a door […]
Perhaps my children and family members don’t understand my need to write. When we argue, I send long text threads — pages of information, systematic logic, emotion carefully laid out in paragraphs. When my son was pledging a fraternity, I texted him daily with my fears and concerns. One day he replied,“Mom, it’s overwhelming and […]
Then he said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the Law of Moses and the Prophets and the Psalms must be fulfilled.” 24:44 We come to the very end of Luke’s account of Jesus’ earthly ministry. Luke was […]
Our new neighbors live across the river from us. Between our small cottage and their blue‑tarped shanty runs a long, crooked river that leads to a deep, beautiful lake in New England. It wraps nearly 270 degrees around our . rolling green hills, tall maples, and sun‑dappled grasses. “It looks like a park,” my oldest […]
My Faith Place 