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
My Independent Woman™ ire flared when I learned in Lao language class how to respond to “Are you married?” There were only two answers: yes and not yet. I attempted “no” in conversation, but was always corrected. I wasn’t married. And, I didn’t know if I ever would be. I wanted to be, but I … Continue reading More than Survivors: Living Single
I have good news, but I’m reluctant to share. I’m reluctant because I don’t want anyone to understand the takeaway to be that the Lord has finally been faithful. He’s been— in every moment, through all the sadness and disappointment and every detour—unceasingly faithful. This news, though good, is not the promised land. I’m wary … Continue reading Scavenging for Yes
The date was marked in my Google calendar. A friend had sent the invite. I was supposed to get married this weekend. If you’re wondering where your invitation is, well, it’s not happening. In 2008, I moved back to the US from China. My goals were grad school and going back abroad. I had this … Continue reading I Was Supposed to Get Married This Weekend
This morning I’ll be speaking with you briefly about the framework the Bible provides for how to love the immigrant. I also want to let you know up front what this talk isn’t about: immigration policy. I’m not even really going to talk about how we as Americans should think about immigrants, but about how … Continue reading No Longer Strangers: A Biblical Framework for Loving our Immigrant Neighbor Well
Having just extolled the benefits of being mentored, you’d think I would consider anything shy of one-on-one, regular, intentional, growth-centered discipleship a sham. But, as is often the case, we tend to cut ourselves more slack than we do others. Perhaps I need to be the mentor I wish to see in the world. Or … Continue reading Spot, Sprinkler, Stealth: On Discipling Others
“WHO WANTS A MENTOR FOR THE NEW YEAR” read the title of a post on a museum blogger’s website that I followed. Intrigued that someone would just put themselves out there to mentor someone coming up in the field, I clicked on the link. Linda had recognized the value of someone further along in their … Continue reading Who Wants a Mentor?
At my age, I'd already grown used to not having a child. Never would I have guessed that an invitation I extended one day to a man of God to have dinner with my husband and me would change that. My husband and I had moved on. We had been sad of course, but focused … Continue reading The Shunammite Woman (2 Kings 4 & 8)
Feet Cry Mercy 