I was asked to participate in the current Patheos Book Club discussion about The Language of Science and Faith. In addition to my own reflection, posted below, I invite you to read an excerpt, read an interview with Karl Giberson, and look at other reviews of the book itself. Here’s my take: Sometimes I forget that there are large portions of the Christian population who don’t believe evolution happened, who think the earth is 4,000 years old, and who assume... Read more
My husband, a Christian, volunteered to be the faculty sponsor of the atheist club on his school campus. Although he believes that Christianity is true (not just true-for-me but true with a capital T), he also believes that everyone has the right to express ideas and to think through their implications. The atheist club didn’t get very far, whether due to his leadership or something else, I don’t know. But I was reminded of it when I read in the... Read more
A little boy died on Monday. His name was Francis, and he had Down syndrome. When he died he was wearing a blue onesie that once belonged to William. Last week I spent some time going through Penny’s old clothes to see what would fit Marilee. I found myself in tears as each item provoked a memory—she wore these little green overalls when she was learning to stand up… she wore this white dress at Easter… she wore this hot... Read more
“Perfectly Human” is a series of guest posts that runs every Wednesday afternoon. Today Mica May, mother to Jackson, a two-year old with Down syndrome, shares her reflections from Down Syndrome Awareness Day. Mica has written for Perfectly Human before (See “My Jackson“), and today she shares some of the things she’s learned in the past two years with Jackson. My favorite line: “thank you for opening my eyes to the simplicity of ball pits, balloons blowing in the breeze,... Read more
Update (posted April 6): Caryn and Casey have won copies of Half the Church. Thanks to all who participated! Let’s begin with a question: what has been your experience of women in the church? Comment below and enter to receive a free copy of Half the Church. Carolyn Custis James’ Half the Church combines personal anecdotes and stories with Biblical exegesis and exhortation to promote an ancient but renewed vision of Biblical womanhood. I was surprised at how much I... Read more
Every so often I happen upon a blog of someone who epitomizes stay-at-home-mom. She bakes fresh bread. She thinks of creative art projects with her children. She decorates her home, with her children, for every holiday. She definitely has a garden with both flowers and vegetables. And a compost bin. Yeah, so, that’s not me (see “I Failed as a Gardener” for proof). But every so often I aim for those types of interactions with my children. Take last Wednesday,... Read more
At just about the time I was moving my blog to beliefnet, I received an email from Deborah Arca, editor of the mainline Christian portal at patheos. She invited me to participate in a “theoblogger challenge” by writing an answer to the question “Who Is God?, in 100 words or less. I enjoyed the challenge, and Deborah later invited me to participate in other questions, including “Why I Need the Resurrection,” Spiritual Renewal in Times of Crisis, and What Book... Read more
Although I have been writing this blog for a few years now, today it has found a new home. In light of the recent move from beliefnet to patheos, I wanted to (re) introduce this blog. As I wrote in my initial post two years ago: “This blog is intended to be about discovering and remembering thin places, places where heaven and earth touch, where God seems more readily present, more easily accessed. It is meant to uncover ideas, relationships,... Read more
This weekly feature is intended to provide a picture of life with a disability in all its possibilities and limitations, gifts and struggles. The title of this feature comes from the Greek word telos, which can be translated as “perfect” but which also can be defined as, “the end for which it was created.” People with disabilities are just as human as anyone else–flawed and gifted, beloved and broken. They are “perfectly” human, which is to say, created with a purpose. This space is intended to... Read more
For most of my adult Christian life, I’ve been trying to understand what happened on the cross. I used to give the stock Christian answer: “Jesus died on the cross for my sins.” I still think that statement is true, but I’ve become less and less clear on exactly what it means. First there’s the problem of individuality. Yes, I’m a sinner. Which is to say, I turn away from God through selfish actions. Little things like harboring resentment towards... Read more
Thin Places-Faith, Family and Disability
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