My mother was my first country, the first place I ever lived. — Nayyirah Waheed

I have written many, many times about the complexities of motherhood and how weekends like this one can bring up a lot of really complicated, really difficult feelings. Some of us have strained relationships with our own mothers. Some of us yearn to be mothers. Some of us have no desire to be mothers. Some of us have lost children, … Read the rest

A child born to another woman calls me mom. The depth of the tragedy and the magnitude of the privilege are not lost on me. — Jody Landers

Tomorrow, the United States will celebrate Mother’s Day. Jumah has written me a card, helped pick out a bouquet of flowers. My heart is full knowing both of my children will celebrate with me, all of us under the same roof after a heart wrenching period of … Read the rest

Another Good Friday’s come. As Marcie Alvis Walker writes, “Here’s the story: Jesus died an unjust and corrupt death at the hands of the highest political and religious leaders because his fellow citizens took a vote on it and said, ‘Give us Jesus Barabbas. Crucify Jesus Christ!’ And Pilate, a Supreme Court of one, gave the people what they wanted.”

The State-sanctioned execution of an innocent man. What could possibly be good in a story … Read the rest

Musicians Abigail and Shaun Bengson — known as ‘The Bengsons’ — made waves last year with their smashing hit, The Keep Going Song. I have listened to that song more times than I can count, and their raw, lyrical prayers have quite literally kept me going more than once during this past year.

The Bengsons have been making music for years however, and one their best, in my humble opinion, is the song Hundred Days.… Read the rest

“Remember that you are dust, and to dust you shall return.”
This Ash Wednesday, I’m thinking about that dust, formed to flesh, housing the Imago Dei within us. I’m thinking about the body, about the mystery of our breath and organs and the beating of our hearts. I’m thinking about the fragility of what it means to be human, what it means to bruise and bleed and break. & I’m blessing the bodies, all of … Read the rest

When I was six years old, I found God. Or rather, God found me.

I grew up Catholic, not in practice, necessarily, but definitely in name. The daughter of two immigrants, I was enrolled in Catholic school because religion was a tie to the old country, so I went to Mass, was taught by the sisters. I found God again when I was nine, kneeling on the floor of a basement bedroom in my aunt’s … Read the rest

Diversity: God’s Gift and the People of Shinar Who Rejected It
An Exegesis of Genesis 11:1-9 (NRSV)

The story of the Tower of Babel is the final account of Primeval History in the Old Testament scriptures. Following Genesis 11:1-9, the narrative shifts to Ancestral History, introducing Abram as a descendant of Shem in Genesis 11:10-26, thereby setting the stage for the tale of Israel’s ancestor in the faith—their origin story. These few verses about Babel … Read the rest

The other day, my four year old was coloring a picture, and then he turned to me, asking, “Mama? How do you spell ‘Virus, go away!’?'” And my heart broke in two.

This past weekend, his grandparents visited briefly–wearing masks, of course, as we all do now. My son, realizing he couldn’t find his, looked at me, panicking, and held a big breath while covering his mouth with his arm. And my heart broke once … Read the rest

It’s a new week, the first new week of this new year, and I suspect that we’ve all got some pretty high expectations for it, especially considering the dumpster fire of a year we just came through (*here’s side-eyeing you, 2020*). This is the year we’re going to get it together. This is the year we’re going to win at this life thing. This is the year that will be different. And maybe it will.… Read the rest