Love one another while you still can.

The other day, my mom shared one of those Facebook memories that pop up on your News Feed from time to time. Sometimes those are fun, sometimes they’re sad. This one was a little of both. The memory was in the form of a photo of myself, my mom, and my grandmother (Mimi) from that …

The Atheist Christmas Carol (Christmas Is For Everyone)

Last Wednesday night, we held a Longest Night service at my church. This service, to be held on or near the longest night of the year, is designed to make space for those who are grieving or hurting around the holidays—to remind them that Christmas is for them, too: For those more jaded than jolly, …

Practice What You Preach

The other day, I was in Trader Joe’s. I was running in to grab one thing, and I was in a hurry. I passed an employee whom I’d met the year before because he had helped with some translation needs with the refugee family a group from our church helped settle (he is from Somalia …

On Not Knowing My Own Strength (and Angry-Crying a Little)

The woman told us the hike to Refugio Lopez was easy. I’ve taken her on it, she said, gesturing toward her daughter, who was maybe 8 years old. We had just been told that the Patagonian hike we wanted to do, up to the hanging glacier on Cerro Tronador, was extremely treacherous, that we should …

I still have anxiety…

Almost 2 years ago, I wrote a blog post called “I have anxiety, so I bought a sassy mug.” It was, I think, my first time publicly writing about my mental health issues—the mild-to-moderate depression and anxiety that have dogged me most of my life. At times, I’ve worried that, although responses to that blog …

#shorthairdontcare and Smashing the Patriarchy

Yesterday, I took my lunch break to walk over to my hair salon. My hair was the longest it had been in over 3 years, when I first did a big chop. I had grown it out for my wedding and, if I do say so myself, I was working the short bob. But when …

“Do you feel different?”

Since my wedding last Saturday, many people have asked me this question: “Do you feel different?” My go-to response has been, “Well, my left hand feels heavier!” And I do feel different now that the stress and anticipation of an impending wedding has dissipated, now that the question of who was or wasn’t going to …

How to Be a Bride and Still Smash the Patriarchy (Part 6)

First, a disclaimer: Any comments along the lines of “But you look great!” or “You don’t need to lose weight!” will be deleted. Never has a person with body issues heard someone say things like that and gone, “You know what, you’re right! I love my body now!” I am grateful for the love, kindness, …

“Do you love me more than these?”

Adapted from a sermon preached at Roots Revival, a midweek worship service grounded in Americana/roots-based music at Centenary United Methodist Church in downtown Winston-Salem, North Carolina, on Wednesday, August 16, 2017. The Scripture was Jeremiah 31:1-6. Many churches follow what’s called the lectionary to guide their worship planning and preaching. The lectionary is a 3-year cycle that …

“Even youths will faint:” Fitness, Ableism, and Loving Your Body—Today

“Even youths will faint and be weary,     and the young will fall exhausted;  but those who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength,     they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary,     they shall walk and not faint.” – Isaiah 40:30-31 A few months ago, our church staff …