Over the last year, I’ve had a revelation. It’s something I knew before, but I think I forgot: pastors are people. You see, prior to this past year, I attended rather large churches—eleven years at a megachurch and about another four at a not-as-big-but-still-pretty-big church. When I moved to Michigan seventeen years ago, freshly married,…
When cruising on a big ship in the Caribbean Sea in the middle of a pandemic, it all comes down to getting a table for dinner by yourself. I know! This doesn’t sound very social or all that nice, but for my husband and me, it’s kind of the truth. I’m not sure how it…
“Andi”—pregnant pause—“that was a major betrayal of you and Paul.” Those words hit deep. I had been in EMT mode, taking care of everyone else at the scene of the figurative crash site, until my therapist said those words: a major betrayal. They cut past my semi hardened flesh and nicked a part of my…
Have you ever had a friend reach out to you in a hard season and you didn’t know how to help? You felt ill-equipped with what to do or what to say. Maybe you tried to be supportive and did more damage than good. How do we help without hurting? A few years ago, I…
It should be crystal clear by now that what I propose in this book is not my natural disposition. Please don’t think this stuff comes easy for me. I’m no kindness poster child. I’d much rather slap Mister Rogers or Mother Teresa on any billboard to represent the simple difference. My likeness is quick to…
When I was a child, my mom created the most wonderful Rainbow Brite costume for me. I don’t remember much about that Halloween, but I do remember how I felt. That costume was incredible. I remember feeling special, well-dressed, and proud of what I had transformed into as I wandered up and down the street,…