I was a dog in a field. Again and again God threw a stick and asked me to fetch. Each time I heard the excitement in his voice, and ran after the stick with everything in me. Then I felt a tug, and realized I was chained. Each time, the chain ran out before I […]
God’s-Hand Sandwich, Uncertainty Bread
When most people think of God speaking, they think of a still, small voice. It’s a beautiful thought, but it’s just one of many ways God’s voice shows up. Lately I’ve been fascinated by the stunning descriptions of what God’s voice is and does in Psalm 29. Some of these may resonate with you more […]
Why I Don’t Go to the Bible for Answers
I began opening the Bible as a child searching for answers to specific questions. It was like being pelted with words, and not having any sense of the person speaking those words. I sometimes found answers, but more often I left feeling more disconnected and confused. What I didn’t understand then (and keep learning) is […]
My Fatal Flaw
We all love to hear the story of the perfect baby boy who changed everything. But today I feel compelled to tell you about another baby boy. It’s not a different story really, but part of the same story. I never met him, but he changed my life. Here’s part of his story, in the […]
All that, for Just One?
My family sold our house, gave away our possessions, and moved to another country to serve trafficked women and girls. The painful reality is that, in spite of our commitment and sacrifice, I only got to pray with one prostitute. A year before our big leap, my husband and I took an exploratory trip to […]
A Great Miracle Happened Here
It seems silly to celebrate a “religious” holiday gambling…but every year we spend at least one of the eight nights of Hanukah playing dreidel. And it’s not as silly as it seems. A dreidel is a spinning top with a Hebrew letter on each side. Outside of Israel, the letters are: נ (Nun), ג (Gimmel), […]
This is Dedicated to the One I Love
There’s a faint buzz of excitement in our household. I have yet to buy, bake, wrap, or decorate anything, but our preparations are well underway for eight nights of celebration. We’re preparing for חֲנֻכָּה (Hanukkah, Chanukah, Chanukkah, or Hanukah) Most people think of it as a consolation prize for people who don’t celebrate Christmas. But […]
Making Sense of the Wasteland
I want everything in my life to have purpose and meaning. Waste makes me squirm. I’d rather not face those times and places in my life that feel pointless. But we’ve all felt this ache, maybe even shame, over things that didn’t gel. We sense the “more” that could be, but it’s too murky to […]
A New Way of Listening
By guest writer Caitlin Boersma After a month or so of referring to Simon as my foster son on social media, I received an unexpected comment from a Facebook friend: “You shouldn’t call a child you’re caring for your “foster” son. As long as he’s with you he’s your son…Think about how that word would […]
The Circular Path to the Hidden Side Door
“Didn’t he say ‘Sempre dritta.’? This doesn’t seem very straight to me.” My husband and I were lost in the Italian heartland, headed for a meeting with a client (this was several years ago, when our jobs involved overseas travel). Our GPS led us into someone’s driveway, and when I asked an elderly gentleman for […]