In November, our lips trembled with the breath of winter etched in frost across the windows. We gazed at dawn’s arrival casting bands of icy glitter on brass and copper oak leaves holding tight to frozen branches, as if they could stop the turn of seasons, suspend the spin of Earth around the sun, butContinueContinue reading “Advent: The First Candle”
Author Archives: Sarah M. Wells
Marriage as a Spiritual Practice
Good morning! Today on Off the Page, I’m introducing a new monthly column I’m excited to write on marriage as a spiritual practice. Now that I’m through writing the family devotional, it feels good to be writing with adults in mind again and navigating the scary but familiar territory of marriage. Today’s post looksContinueContinue reading “Marriage as a Spiritual Practice”
As Far As It Depends on You
I have been trying to practice the recommendation from Paul in the Bible, “If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone,” a verse from Romans 12:18. I have been trying to practice this verse for as long as I can remember now, maybe back as far asContinueContinue reading “As Far As It Depends on You”
How the Current Moves Us
I went to bed last night after watching this exclusive on the events in Charlottesville thinking about the passive racism in areas like where I grew up. No one wants to believe they’d be swept up in a tide of hatred and violence, but what if you’re gradually moved, one inch, one speech, one tweet atContinueContinue reading “How the Current Moves Us”
Raising a Child Who Learns the Hard Way
Anyone else remember Dennis the Menace or Alvin the Chipmunk and their respective guardians, who yelled so the whole neighborhood could hear, DENNNNNNNNIS! ALLLLLVIIIIINNNN! Yeah, I’ve got one of them. The child you have to watch the most when he’s with friends. The child of “You’re grounded,” and “If I have to tell you oneContinueContinue reading “Raising a Child Who Learns the Hard Way”
How to Read the Old Testament without Wanting to Throw Something, or Drink, or Give Up Your Religion
The Old Testament of the Bible is hard. If you’ve taken any modern science classes, married for love instead of property, or heard about Jesus’s call to love your enemy, you probably struggle a little bit with the God of the Old Testament. The God of the Old Testament seems finicky, impatient, and intolerant. TheContinueContinue reading “How to Read the Old Testament without Wanting to Throw Something, or Drink, or Give Up Your Religion”
Joy Full and Filling
Being a Type A, INTJ, 1W9, etc., I really like lists, and checking things off my lists, and adding things to my list so that I can check them off. So here we are, nearing the middle of the year! Time to check on my 17 Resolutions in ’17: Start a new job! ✔️ Knock theContinueContinue reading “Joy Full and Filling”
Creation
I notice it more and more as I get older, how important making stuff is to me. – Paula Scher, #Abstract I’ve been watching the Netflix series Abstract on and off, generally when no one else is around. Every time I watch an episode I remember again how much I love to create, how muchContinueContinue reading “Creation”
Earthiness
Earth Day lands in April, and in honor of the great big planet that hosts us, Off the Page is posting lots of Earth-oriented articles this month, including mine – “Picking Rocks and the Cosmic Christ.” A few other earthy articles of mine have appeared various places the last few years. Here are excerpts fromContinueContinue reading “Earthiness”
When Fear Paralyzes, Love’s Got Legs
My son is afraid I’m going to die. This fear leaks out right about the time he shuts his eyes at night. He’s worried because anything can happen. Tonight’s specific “anything” is accompanied by fear of violence and death in general. He can hardly utter the words. It makes him gasp for breath, wide-eyed and choking atContinueContinue reading “When Fear Paralyzes, Love’s Got Legs”
Sarah Marie Wells 