The Prophetic Role of Pastor Moms
“I don’t know how you do it!” they often say with exasperation and awe in their voice. Admiring onlookers into the mom life watch their pastor – their spiritual leader […]
Blocked Exits and Holy Ground
For the fourth day in a row, I was leaving the church building after dark. As my three children and I made our way to the back parking lot after […]
A Prayer for My Sons
A Prayer for My Sons: God, protect them. Protect them from ignorance of their privilege and the advantages they will have as white men. Protect them from entitlement. Protect them […]
Teach Me to Forgive
As many mothers do when their young ones run toward them, I scooped up my four-year-old son. Together we enact this move on a nearly daily basis, but this time, […]
Choosing Between Two Holy Places
It’s Saturday morning. I dig through a clump of pink and green plastic princess necklaces as I search for my dove pendant, an image of the Holy Spirit I ritualistically […]
My Colleague, My Mom
“You’re going to seminary? Are you sure?” This wasn’t the reaction I was expecting from my mother when I called to tell her I’d applied for admission to seminary. After […]
My Daughter’s Ministry
Right before Christmas, my daughter fed the baby Jesus to our dog. We have a long-suffering boxer mix, Gary, who will do anything my 16-month-old daughter asks. I was working […]
When the Hurts Don’t Show
The words the nurse said that day return again and again to my thoughts: “If the ulcers that are on the inside of her body were on the outside, you’d […]
The Old, Old Story for a New, New Step-Mom
I am a pastor and the daughter of a pastor. I attended Sunday school, worship, and Bible studies for all of my growing-up years. I majored in Religion in college, […]
Minding the Gap: Luke 2:21-52
Starlight dims, newborn stirs; the body that bore the child throbs still. Angels heavenward, shepherds to their flocks, a child and her child, dew-covered, clumsily nurse. Aching journey to the […]
