When I was eight years old, I had a massive infection called Clostridium septicemia. Doctors had to amputate my left leg and hip (hip disarticulation) in order to save my life. From that day forward I used my one leg as two. All of the jumping, skipping, and hopping around over the years has caused…
With a deep breath, I pulled in air from my regulator, then slowly let the bubbles escape as I exhaled. I could hear the slow, intentional rhythm of respiration and feel the weight of the water around me. It was a comfort, an embrace. The awareness of air and water together slowed the pace of…
One summer when I was in high school, I met two boys at a Christian teen conference. We became fast friends. We walked together to our workshop sessions and reclined outside on picnic blankets during the breaks. All the while, we shared stories of our lives back home. These boys were country boys. They hailed…
I’ve never been a late-night person. Growing up, I was the child who loved her sleep and would tell the babysitter I was ready for bed early. But nighttime has always been special to me when it comes to spending time with God. I first realized this during my college years. With its strong contrast…
“Blessed are the poor in spirit …” I wonder how many times I’ve read or heard the Beatitudes. I grew up in the church, so I think it might be close to a hundred at this point, most often in the New International Version of the Bible. “Blessed are those who mourn …” This passage…
The social media-centered culture we live in seems to promote the collection and sharing of as many experiences as possible. As a mom of three boys, I find myself in daily pursuit of experiences. We explore vacation spots, try out new sports, and even get a little wild in the kitchen at dinnertime when I…