I spend a lot of my time and energy anticipating future needs. Mine, and those of other people. I anticipate the needs of my kids: That one is starting to whine and look kind of puny–better fix a snack before she has a meltdown. His jeans are getting too short, again; better order some, because he will outgrow them in his sleep, AGAIN. They should go to bed now or we will have a difficult morning. Make sure everybody pees now, or... Read more
One of the school districts in the Kansas City area has banned teachers from wearing safety pins. Two weeks ago, responses to that headline might have been… Are they worried kids will use them as weapons? Did someone poke their eye out? What if there’s a wardrobe malfunction? Is everything dangerous now?? But now we can add safety pins to the list of inanimate objects that have become loaded with social implications. Along with Starbucks holiday cups and Target bathrooms. The safety pin... Read more
Guest Post: by C. Shawn McGuffey Since the election I have been saddened. Luckily, I am fortunate enough to have a loving partner, family, friends, and students that reach out at precisely the right times to keep me intact. My good choices keep reaping benefits. And as you can see from the picture, I’ve also been acting, organizing, and participating. I am so proud of the many community members that are still doing the work to make this world better.... Read more
In the year of King Uzziah’s death, I saw the Lord sitting on a high and exalted throne, the edges of his robe filling the temple. Winged creatures were stationed around him. Each had six wings: with two they veiled their faces, with two their feet, and with two they flew about.They shouted to each other, saying: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of heavenly forces! All the earth is filled with God’s glory!” The doorframe shook at the sound... Read more
There’s a reason they call it a “cold open.” There is no intro. No setting up of context. No opening music or credits to know the show has started. One minute it’s your local news, maybe some commercials–and then, there you are. The opening segment of Saturday Night Life, with little transition from wherever you just were. Kate McKinnon has so effectively embodied the voice and spirit of Hillary Clinton during this campaign season, that all she had to do... Read more
“My head is pounding and I feel sick; but I can’t go to bed because when I wake up tomorrow it will be 100 years ago.” That’s what I said to my spouse (and Tweeted) at around midnight last night. That confounding arrangement of verb tenses aptly sums up where many of us are today. Utterly confounded. Disoriented. What year is it? Where do I live right now? It is easy to despair… Because, Jesus, this is a dark place.... Read more
This morning my phone flashed a cute little notification that said “Tomorrow is election day!” I wanted to throw it like it was hot and scream AS IF I CAN FORGET THAT FOR A SECOND! It’s a new phone so I didn’t do that. But geez, how can we forget? Tomorrow is TUESDAY. Tomorrow is the great reckoning. Tomorrow dawns the day when we find out if we are still speaking to all of our friends and family or not. Tomorrow... Read more
Let me tell you this really sad thing I used to do when I lived in the desert. In October–after 4 solid months of unrelenting triple-digit temps–we would get about 2 hours of cool in the mornings. For those two blessed hours, I would put on boots and my favorite jean jacket; go to a coffee shop and order a latte (maybe even a spicy Mexican Mocha); and I would sit there, pretending it was fall. By about 10am, the... Read more
I want to write about election fatigue. But I’m too tired. I’ve been dragging, feeling run-down and drained. This should not be. I haven’t been sick. It’s my favorite time of year. Church is good, kids are good. It’s almost Halloween and last week was my birthday. I just got a FitBit and have met my step goals every day since I put the dang thing on. I’ve been sleeping ok. I eat green vegetables. What more does this body... Read more
My beloved America. This is an intervention. This is a hard thing to say, so I’m just going to get right to it: You are in an abusive relationship. I’m sorry if it hurts you to hear that, and I hope that someday you will be able to forgive me for being so direct. It’s only because I love you, and I can’t bear to see you hurt anymore. This guy you’ve been seeing… He is dangerous. He threatens you with... Read more
Irreverin
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