I’m reading Ken Follett’s Fall of Giants: Book One of the Century Trilogy and in the midst of WWI there is also the story of the Women’s Suffrage movement in England. As I listen to their stories and read of stories around the world of women who don’t have access to education or the choice in whom […]
The Voices that Are Silenced Read More »
The familiar anxiety crept into my stomach. It always happened when I ran into someone from my home church. I knew the conversation that was about to happen, I had engaged in it many times before: How are you? I’m great! How are you? Great, what in the world are you up to? Well, I’m
Coming Out as a Baptist Woman Preacher Read More »
For over a year, we have partnered with an apartment complex that helps adults with special needs who have transitioned out of government aid (they are over 21) to learn to live and work independently. The partnership started because the property manager was looking for a way for the residents to have Christmas. What we
A week ago, I was privileged to attend Pam Durso’s ordination. As I sat there waiting in the silence for the service to begin, I realized this was the first ordination I had attended as an ordained minister, which brought my thoughts back to my ordination. Although I had read about the ordination process before I
Observing Ordination Read More »
I want to go to church It’s a simple request and desire and one I received on Sunday morning last week. I wish I could say that for this young lady simply wanting to go to church meant she could go to church, but because she is an adult with special needs, she has to
I Want to Go to Church Read More »
I had just finished my first cup of coffee when it dawned on me. Leo was going to have to go to Sunday School. Leonardo Speedy Harrelson is our 6 week old African Tortoise who joined the Harrelson Pack over Christmas. Leo is a great pet as his bobbing head, burrowing, and love of kale
Leo Goes to Sunday School Read More »
I remember standing in the cereal aisle of the grocery store. It was one of those rare occasions when either we had worn my mom down enough or the sale was good enough that we were able to get the mini boxes of cereal for our morning breakfast. As my younger brother and I stood
“I don’t know if you’re religious or not…” Read More »
One of the things I hoped for when I graduated from seminary in May was some more time. Time to rest. Time to read. Time to reconcile relationships. The intensity of completing a 90+ hour degree in three years made it impossible not to strain relationships, not only because I was changing professions and my
Reconciliation and Rest Read More »
Willie and I found out yesterday that our friend Mr. Joe passed away. It’s interesting to me that I found this out the same day that Willie mysteriously stopped eating. Now, I know what you are going to say about the subtext of that statement, but what if there is some way that he knew
Therapy Thursday: Saying Goodbye Read More »
I always knew that teaching would creep back into my life more fully once I graduated school, but I can’t say I anticipated teaching ESL, especially high school ESL. Now that the essays are graded and the grades are turned in, I have to admit that I’m sad my Monday afternoons won’t be filled with
