A sermon on Hebrews chapter 11   (read the biblical text here) Faith is the assurance of things hoped for, the conviction of things not seen. I stand before you as one who has very little assurance or conviction this morning, but I stand here nonetheless. It is faith which allows me to get up here... Continue Reading →

Cause of Death: Immediate, Hypertensive Cardiovascular Disease Other Contributing Conditions: Hepatomegaly, Hepatic Steatosis Monday morning, the death certificates arrived at the funeral home, the signal I'd been waiting for to say the toxicology report was finished and the autopsy officially complete. I talked to the medical examiner Monday afternoon. He seemed as shocked as I was... Continue Reading →

I entered the church building yesterday for the first time since the funeral: to test it out, to see what it would feel like, to know whether I can actually go back to work next week as I have planned. On the one hand, it felt bad to be there, partly because everyone looked so... Continue Reading →

Devotion given this evening at the ELCA Hunger Leadership Gathering, Minneapolis Before I truly begin this devotion, I want to say a word of thanks and a dedication. First, thank you to Robin Brown for inviting me to do this devotion. Robin was an upstairs neighbor of mine at the Lutheran School of Theology in... Continue Reading →

It started with the butterflies. A dozen of them, all sizes, showed up on the front of our house the day Marrett got sick. These butterflies hatch in our neighborhood every year, but usually down the street near a neighbor's house. But Thursday last, they took up residence at Broady Grund Hollow, alighting on our... Continue Reading →

I lay in the bed I used to share with my husband, the toddler's tiny form tucked in beside me, listening as her breathing settles into sleep. My eyes are open, but I cannot see, save for the sliver of light coming from the hall. The darkness feels like a metaphor. Marrett's death is exactly... Continue Reading →

The sun is shining with a warmth that can only mean spring this morning, and as I came out of my favorite coffee place with my favorite chai latte in hand, I was literally stopped in my tracks by joy. It's a Monday, which is my day off each week, and I started it with... Continue Reading →

It was a long week, for so many women including myself, one in which it was hard to not get thoroughly discouraged about the state of the world. Thankfully, within the walls of my own house, things looked a little brighter. My husband, God bless him, was an constant encouragement and said so many of... Continue Reading →