Although I couldn't move to Seattle fast enough, things would get worse before they got better. I visited seven or eight churches but regardless of where I was, I mostly just sat off by myself and cried. Sometimes I’d sing, but most often I couldn’t. I joined a small group that winter and was the … Continue reading The Religion Chronicles—Part 4: Nothing Good vs A Little Bad
The global financial crisis welcomed me back to America, specifically to Boston, in the fall of 2008. It took what felt like forever to find a job, but I found a church and small group quickly. Almost immediately, though, I realized something was off. I wrote to a friend just a month after being back: … Continue reading The Religion Chronicles—Part 3: Death Ousting Life
China remains, without contest, the best three years of my life. I had two months to raise $32,000 the summer after graduation and, despite not knowing well-off people, I trusted God would provide. My mom said seeing my faith strengthened hers. When I left for China, I told her my intention was to stay there … Continue reading The Religion Chronicles—Part 2: Deeper into the Well-Meaning Forest
When people ask me when I became a Christian, I say it could have been any one of three moments. The first of these came the summer of my sixth year. I’d rocked a small role in the Easter play several months prior, so when the pastor asked a series of questions about why Jesus came … Continue reading The Religion Chronicles—Part 1: A for Asceticism
DC is a city of sirens. I cannot make a phone call outside without having to pause for ambulances, fire trucks, and police cars to go by. They are the ambient noise to which I fall asleep, sometimes even puncturing my rest as tragedy and crime ravage the night. They are a nuisance, an interruption, … Continue reading American Privilege: A Thanksgiving Tale
Those old-school black and white composition notebooks were my favorite for writing down stories as a kid. When family came at Christmas, I wouldn't let them leave until everyone had spent some time with at least one of them. I liked coming up with elaborate plots but never finished stories. I also loved to write poetry—both … Continue reading My Favorite Things: Writing
I am a theologically conservative, politically liberal, Masters degree-holding, Christian, African-American woman. I have endured the scorn of the theologically liberal for being too conservative. I’ve received the reproach of the politically conservative for being a heretic. I’ve experienced the distrust of the uneducated for being elite. I’ve been accused by nonbelievers of being a … Continue reading The Christian’s Fear
In the days since the election, I've seen people grapple with how to respond to their friends who voted for Trump. I offered platitudes about staying engaged and trying to see things from others' views. I hadn't really had to personally to do this however because, until yesterday, I didn't know of any friends who made that decision. … Continue reading I Know You to Be Kind: Responding to those who chose differently
Less than a week ago, I sat in the backwoods of West Virginia on fall retreat and listened to a pastor explain how we as Christians could understand God better when we live in community. He used his knowledge of his wife to illustrate. He thought he had known her very well as they were dating … Continue reading Crying from a Life Raft: A request of my white Christian brothers
Today is historic. Since 2005, I haven't lived in any one place for more than two years. I lived in Luang Prabang for two years before making my exit. I spent a year and eight months in Seattle before moving abroad. Cambridge, Massachusetts was home for a year and ten months before I left for … Continue reading Two Years and a Day
Feet Cry Mercy 