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”
Category Archives: Uncategorized
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”
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”
5 Ways to Stand for Women in Small Town America
It’s International Women’s Day, and I don’t own any red shirts. The closest I’m getting is a maroon button-down cowgirl shirt I wore to the George Strait retirement concert before he came out of retirement. I could stay home and strike, but my CEO already gets the message that women matter, that equal pay is important.ContinueContinue reading “5 Ways to Stand for Women in Small Town America”
Abide
I began reading The Bible Tells Me So by Peter Enns today, and in the midst of my own similar writing project on reading the Bible I feel as if I’ve found a kindred spirit. This comes early on in his narrative: “Sweating bullets to line up the Bible with our exhausting expectations, to make the BibleContinueContinue reading “Abide”
Facebook Stabbing
I picked up cross-stitch again after the new year, partly because I bought Lydia a small cross-stitch project for Christmas to teach her the fine art of counting stitches, and partly because of this picture: It reminded me of the days after my second miscarriage, when I lost faith in the promises I had believed,ContinueContinue reading “Facebook Stabbing”
Sarah Marie Wells 