THE BIBLE is an antique volume Written by faded men, At the suggestion of Holy Spectres— Subjects—Bethlehem— Eden—the ancient Homestead— Satan—the Brigadier, Judas—the great Defaulter, David—the Troubadour. Sin—a distinguished Precipice Others must resist, Boys that “believe” Are very lonesome— Other boys are “lost.” Had but the tale a warbling Teller All the boys would come— …
Brain, Child: Relieving myself
So I’m honored to have an old essay of mine up on Brain, Child‘s website today. It’s an amazing magazine that helps me process my journey through motherhood with wit, insight, and just the tiniest bit of irony. First off, go subscribe NOW. This magazine is such an antidote to our culture’s narrative of parenthood. Not …
What happens when I panic
I wanted to believe I wouldn’t panic. I started a writing project with a lot of anticipation and excitement. I felt oddly optimistic. I had reasonable expectations, was excited to try something new, and felt thankful for the habits of mind (journaling, weekly prayer with a friend, writing habits, and breath prayer) that have helped …
Dream your wildest dream: One Woman’s Yes with Kathy Khang
A few months ago, I wrote a post that quoted Kathy Khang: ““But to find your voice can be dangerous because you have to choose things and take risks and speak.” Then I waxed poetic about her bravery, amazed that she might find it hard to use her voice. Kathy was kind enough to stop …
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The Danger of Losing Purpose When We Hustle
Note: This post is for ALL people who care for others: kids, the elderly, students, whatever. And by no means am I saying that everyone should homeschool. You do you, no matter what. If you don’t know what unschooling is, go here. To see all posts in this series, go here. Caminante, son tus huellas …
The Insanely Productive Habit of Being Gentle with Yourself
I have a morning habit that grounds me and strengthens me every day. I look forward to it, and depend on it to give me some equilibrium. I manage to make it a priority, no matter what. What is it? It’s reading advice columns while I drink a cup of tea. You thought I was …
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“I have to know who I am.” One Woman’s Yes with Sarah Bessey
I took Sarah Bessey’s little yellow firecracker of a book, Jesus Feminist, to worship a few months ago, hoping someone in my (not terribly conservative) church would ask me about it. Because Jesus Feminist is a book you want to have conversations about–a book that’s inviting, and warm, and a bold call for all of us …
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A simple, easy, life-changing invitation
By the very first hour of his invitation, Topo had already changed my life. And I didn’t even know his last name. It started on Palm Sunday. At the Presbyterian church I’d been attending for a few months in Buenos Aires, Topo stopped me outside the sanctuary. I had no idea who he was, but …
Yes Is a Heart-Stopping, Unpredictable, Wonderful Adventure
Lately, the phrase “yes, and” has been going through my head. It comes from a class I took once on plotting a work of fiction. The main character has a question waiting to be answered. At a critical juncture, they get an answer— But it’s not a safe, predictable solution. Instead, it moves them further into their …
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A life of hidden beauty: One Woman’s Yes with Addie Zierman
Addie Zierman’s lyrical memoir When We Were On Fire chronicled the her faith crisis before she had kids. Since she wrote her book, she often gets asked the question, “How then will you raise your kids?” She has trouble answering. So, of course, I made her talk about it for a half-hour. Here’s how Addie is …
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The Big Picture vs. the Details
Off and on, I’ve been trying to draw from nature. Leaves. Fruit. Weird seed pods. Also, trees. Can I just say that drawing a tree is one of the most frustrating things ever? How do you draw the whole thing? The branches, the leaves, the canopy? When you look at a tree, you see a …
If your dreams terrify you, read this.
A year and a half ago, a friend of mine sent me a link to a Simple Mom post. “I read this and thought you would like it. But maybe not!” she said. She knew me too well. I opened the post, and my heart sank. “I wrote a five-year plan,” the title said. “And …
I am a Jesus feminist because…
Calling myself a feminist keeps me honest. **** One of the biggest culture shocks I ever experienced (yes, it rivaled South America) was going to the Bible Belt for college at a small, secular university. When I visited the school before enrolling, I discovered that the broader campus culture was almost a reaction against the …
The unsettling, empowering and surprising journey to community: One Woman’s Yes with Osheta Moore
I was lucky enough to stumble upon Osheta Moore’s blog right about the time she started blogging about finding her tribe. I especially loved this little gem on the diversity and unity in the body of Christ as discovered in an apple orchard. I wanted to talk to her about two big yeses in her …
Don’t be a robot for Jesus
There’s a reason I don’t read that many Christian books. Too often, I feel like throwing them across the room. Like the one I opened up the other day, which had this Christian wisdom nugget: “Jesus is teaching me to live by faith, not by my feelings.” On one hand, I completely agree with the …
What I learned from talking to activists…nervously
When I started asking social justice activists questions, I thought I’d feel awful when I compared myself to them. If I talked with people who were walking the walk of serving the poor, of crossing cultural boundaries, of standing in the face of exploitation, of preaching reconciliation, I would be reminded over, and over at how …
Are you having a hard time handling parenthood—or life?
I struggle to handle both too. And then I read a post that made me start to wonder about why, exactly, I need to “handle” these things at all. At first, I really wanted to hate the post. “F&^% Ina May,” the title said. As someone who had two home births, who thinks natural birth can be …
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White and clueless about race? Here’s the secret to changing that. Well, the clueless part.
Do you ever feel guilty about how homogenous your friends are? Do you avoid multicultural situations or conversations about race and ethnicity because you’re terrified of making a mistake? Do you wish you knew how to get over yourself and follow Christ’s lead as a reconciler? I’m learning a ton from Christena Cleveland’s wise posts on …
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Finding Creativity in Community
When I was a new mom, a friend said something I’ve been mulling over ever since. “People over projects,” she said. We are both writers; she was speaking about finding work/life balance in the midst of the parenting storm. Projects were important, sure. Projects were great. But people needed to come first. I nodded. There in …
You Shouldn’t Follow My Spiritual Practices
The only music I have on my iPhone is scripture set to music. I try to listen to songs at least once a week. I’m finding having the Bible verses running through my head all day really encouraging. It helps my anxiety; in moments where the ugly self-critic starts up, I have ready songs to …
How To Deal with Resistance In Your Creative Life
(I wrote this post back in 2013, when we’d just gotten back from time abroad. I don’t even recognize the organizational system I’m describing here. But the way anxiety (or, what Steven Pressfield calls “Resistance”) sprouts in cracks in my mental sidewalk? Very familiar). The other day, I sat down to write down my list …
The shocking secret of courageousness
Originally published at The Happiest Home. I used to define myself by what I wouldn’t do. Dive headfirst in a pool. Duck under an ocean wave. Watch scary movies, even “scary” movies meant for children. Rollercoasters. Heights. Anything starting with the word “extreme.” I hate calling to order takeout. I hesitate, really, to pick up …
I Used to Loathe Myself
Originally published at The Happiest Home. It would happen almost every month. “I wish I were someone else,” I’d cry. I wanted to squeeze small enough in my skin that I could be free of being me altogether. My husband would hand me tissues while I explained how I’d never get anywhere, being who I …
Most Popular
Here are some of the most popular posts from A Little Yes: The magic portal between how we treat our kids and how we treat ourselves The surprising definition of “fluent” Don’t be a robot for Jesus The one question I can’t stop asking Book of Common Prayer: FAQ for Non-Anglicans* I am a Jesus …