In 2019, I had the opportunity to teach a creative writing course for a group of accomplished expatriates who wanted to write about their experiences living in a foreign land. I...

Often I do not know how to pray. Usually my prayers are check-the-box requests delivered in a steady, professional manner. The psalms show a different way of praying that is eloquent,...

The pink clutch with plastic embossed flowers was one of the prettiest things my eight-year-old eyes had ever seen. The salesclerk told me it cost one dollar, so I decided to...

On Christmas Day, 2020, I was sitting in my friend’s living room in Tønsberg, Norway, looking at the old watchtower on top of Fortress Hill. Churches were closed because of the...

One of my biggest struggles in my teenage years was comparing myself to others and trying to meet the world’s standards for beauty, knowledge, and skill. I thought my identity was...

A heavy rain began to fall while I was on my way to work. I took cover and watched the other people moving hurriedly down the street, trying unsuccessfully to keep...

In 2020, I had basal cancer cells surgically removed from my face. To shrink and flatten the visible scar, I had to massage it several times a day. I also had...

My neighbor has a beautiful tree, a spreading green canopy with a gentle shape. Its loveliness is no surprise because my neighbor is fully dedicated to caring for and shaping her...

I phoned a friend whose husband suffers from multiple sclerosis. She herself does not enjoy the best of health. “How are you today?” I asked. “Well,” she replied, “it’s like I’m...

Despite experiencing severe vision loss in childhood, I enjoyed hiking in the Southern Rockies with my family. Some parts of the trail were scary because I couldn’t judge drop-off distances when...