On a cold, late December night over a decade ago, I walked behind the thrifted couch in the living room of my first home and began to tug at a corner of the bedraggled carpet. With much effort and accompanying dust, that initial corner broke free of the tack strip. That first pull became a…
“Nevertheless, the one who receives instruction in the word should share all good things with their instructor.” (Galatians 6:6 NIV) I recently worked through my church’s training for small group leaders. Each week, we study the Bible or something biblical that will lead to personal growth in our relationships with Christ, and thereby, in our…
One Tuesday evening a month, I spend a few hours with a handful of coaches’ wives over video chat. Our time is mostly spent discussing various Bible studies. We have also celebrated pregnancies, mourned deaths, prayed for job transitions, and confessed our fears to each other. Most importantly, we pray for each other. Our group…
Have you ever quit a job, left a school, abandoned a group of any kind simply because you couldn’t bear to spend one more day in an environment that didn’t fit you? Have you ever turned your back on a relationship because of divergent values? Walked away from a conversation out of protest? And what…
The world prefers people who fit in. There’s nothing wrong with fitting in—it’s what enables most systems to function well. But here’s the problem. Many of these societal systems, such as our schools, workplaces, and even churches, benefit only people who fit into the mold. When a child is born with Down syndrome or brown…
We had been waiting in line for, well, as long as you wait in a line at Disney World. When it was our turn, my girls would be riding Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin together while Joe, my husband, and I shared a spaceship with our preteen son, Peyton. The ride involves a game where…