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Racism is Wrong
It has been a just-get-it-done kind of month, during which I regret not posting on my blog. But I got some good news today that I wanted to share. The Christian Century just published another essay of mine called “I believe racism is wrong. So what?” It will be published in the May 24th print…
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Look Up
In a recent podcast interview, Anne Lamott shared advice she often calls upon from her pastor. She said, “Pastor Veronica always talks about how you can trap bees on the bottom of a mason jar without honey or lids because the bees don’t look up—they just kind of walk around muttering to themselves and bumping…
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Love is always reaching for more
In his book, My Bright Abyss, Christian Wiman writes: “In any true love—a mother’s for her child, a husband’s for his wife, a friend’s for a friend—there is an excess energy that always wants to be in motion. Moreover, it seems to move not simply from one person to another but through them, toward something…
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Caring for our Elders
As a pastor, I have accompanied people through the many stages of aging, caregiving, and end of life. But it’s different when it is your own family and your own parents. I turned to a couple of books over my winter break as I sought to help my parents navigate some new life decisions. The…
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Longing for God
“I feel this longing for God.” Sister Margaret, my spiritual director, sat across from me in a comfortable armchair as I shared this, her bible open on a small table next to her. She always has a scripture ready for me. I needed to talk about this longing, though, this desire for God that I…
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Newborn Sparrow
Hippocampus Magazine just published a flash essay of mine called “Newborn Sparrow.” I’m a fan of this online literary magazine, so I was thrilled when they accepted my essay for publication in their March issue. Read Newborn Sparrow here!
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Following the Thread of Thought
I recently wrote a review for Assay: The Journal of Nonfiction Studies on an AWP panel I attended. Here is a description of the panel: Following the Thread of Thought How do writers follow the thread of a thought through the maze of events in an essay or memoir? What is the art of reflection?…
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Ten Reasons I am Grateful for AWP
This week I attended my second AWP (Association of Writers and Writing Programs) annual conference in Washington, D.C. Here are ten reasons why I am grateful for this experience: Meeting writers and editors in person who I only knew through blogging and social media such as, Allison K Williams (read my post about her amazing book,…
Teri McDowell Ott 