I dreamed of screams last night. It’s just a dream I told myself. But it wasn’t. Last night the screams of justice were heard all across our country. These screams were followed closely by the screams of fear from people who were victims of tear gas and rubber bullets. Screams of citizens trying to make their …
Dreams of Fire
I dreamed of fire last night. It’s just a dream I told myself. But it wasn’t. Last night fires raged with voices demanding justice all across our country. Fires that have been smoldering in the hearts and souls of those who have suffered every day in an unjust system. A system designed to benefit some …
Entering Eastertide: Hope
We are just days away from Pentecost, which marks the end of the fifty days of Eastertide. In the season of Eastertide, the church calendar follows the stories and journeys of the apostles who have received the Spirit of Truth and have preached this good news all over. This is where the story of the life, …
Entering Eastertide: Loss
We lose a lot of stuff around the house. There is a basket full of cars, but we can’t find the one car we really really need before we can do anything else. Our sixteen-month-old has figured out how to open the toy drawer and the trash can, so we lose pacis left and right. …
Entering Eastertide: What’s that smell?
Spring has always been full of new smells. Flowers blooming. Trees budding. And those wonderful evenings after the rain comes through. On our daily walks, one of the questions our four-year-old almost always asks is “What’s that smell?” Sometimes I know the answer, especially if it’s a Bradford Pear tree, but many times I don’t. …
Entering Eastertide: Do you hear what I hear?
NPR recently reported on the way lockdown and limited mobility impacted the natural world. One of the most poignant observations was: We can hear subtlety of life around us that we haven’t heard in a long, long time. Maybe it’s because we have the time to notice sounds that have been all around us but …
Entering Eastertide: Going Back
On Saturday, we walked to the park and playground where we have gone innumerable times with all of our kids. The playground still isn’t opened, but the park is opened for walking and moving activities. I thought it would be a way to “return to normal.” It wasn’t. It was strange. The playground equipment still …
Entering Eastertide: Don’t Lose Heart
Just this week, I talked to many parents about how this new life has impacted our kids. Some days the changes are positive and promising. Siblings are developing deeper relationships. Learning and imagination have time to flourish and expand. And we are all noticing the way nature is growing and changing all around us. Other …
Entering Eastertide: Forgetfulness
I am seeing less and less masks. I am seeing less and less patience in staying six feet apart. I am seeing more and more demands to make things “normal” again. It’s as if collectively we have forgotten why we were staying home and staying apart from each other. It’s as if collectively we have …
Entering Eastertide: Rest
On our morning walk yesterday, our four-year-old looked at me and said: “Mama, my feet just can’t go anymore.” I knew exactly the feeling he was describing. The weight of loss and grief combined with the severance from community is exhausting right now. Not to mention the additional responsibilities of trying to work and homeschool …