I am a 35 year old African-American woman. I had my first—and last—kiss (or kisses, depending on how you count) five days after turning 34 and had my only boyfriend in the summer and fall of 2004. I am a few months into recovery from heartbreak by being unseen when I’d at least hoped to be considered … Continue reading Single Ladies Catechism
Yesterday I got coffee with a friend and she asked me how classes were going. I told her that my covenant theology class has changed the way I pray. When she asked how, an analogy came to mind. You enter a store teeming with nothing but precious valuables. You take a stroll around trying to … Continue reading No More Window Shopping: A Covenant Perk
I know nothing about physical therapy but several years ago got to observe a pediatric physical therapist at work. I sat in a corner while a little girl played across the room on one of those plastic playsets for 30 minutes. At the end of the session, the physical therapist turned to the girl’s mother … Continue reading A Boon for My Soul
2018 was almost as good as 2016 and 17 weren’t. Three quarters of this year, in fact, was not just relatively good, but exceptionally so. In no particular order (well, in some cases certain things are logically paired like two and three, eight and nine, ten and eleven), here’s a sampling of the most memorable … Continue reading 2018 Year in Review
Appetites shimmy with glee, saliva pools in our mouths, stomachs churn impatiently. Today, we will feast on the bounty placed before us. Succulent meats, savory sides, hearty stuffing, and decadent pies release aromas signaling the time has come. An enticing invitation Long ago the Lord invited the hungry and thirsty to come, buy with no … Continue reading A Feasted Soul
The scene opens on a kitchen. A restauranteur seeks chefs to make food according to the recipes in his book. He tells them they can follow any of the many recipes he provides, but if they decide to make something else they will lose their jobs. At the end of the first day, the new … Continue reading When VBS Comes at You Like Nathan
The 21st has come and gone and I’m sad to see it go. I type this with a left hand of freshly calloused fingers, with Prosecco gummy bears making their way to my stomach, and with a soul aglow. Last night, I got to spend three and a half hours praying, worshiping and feasting with … Continue reading Single Ladies’ Prayer Night
The way it was supposed to work was I go abroad, discover this exotic legume, and, like any good expat, rave about it to friends and family back home. When it came to red bean, though, I just couldn’t. When I lived in China, I would often buy sweets I believed to be chocolate flavored. … Continue reading Red Bean and Singleness: The un-chocolate imposters
“What if I never get married?” my friend asked through sobs. “What if you never get married?” I pushed a little, treading cautiously, “It’s not incompatible with God’s character and goodness that you could remain single while still desiring marriage for the rest of your life.” Silence. “What do you think the Lord might have … Continue reading Enough is Enough: Grace for an approaching army
Unlike my other insecurities, my race felt like a death sentence. The search for the secret to being chosen was supposed to unearth something I could change, but what could I do about being black? A loving and wise Father made me this way but could he work around it? Seven out of ten black … Continue reading I Might Be Beautiful: Black, evangelical, and single
