Finding joy has never been a priority for me in terms of how I structure my life. A long-term goal? Certainly, yes. My path to getting there, however, has been misguided. I’ve held the common belief that if I can achieve and succeed enough, joy–or at the very least, contentment–will find its way to me. Sometimes I wonder if I was drawn initially Read More
advocacy
“If Not Me, Then Who?”
“If not me, then who?” This question guides my advocacy work. It provides a form of self-accountability that keeps me true to my life's purpose: to make the world a more just, compassionate place. Like many of us I’ve been horrified and triggered by the stories of sexual abuse perpetrated by (mostly) white men in power. There have been days Read More
Catalyzing, Not Culminating
On this Inauguration Day I have been putting the final touches on my sign that I will carry in the Women's March in Raleigh, NC tomorrow. It reads, "Love not hate will make America great." Though I'm regularly in DC, sometimes several times a month, I deliberately chose to stay home and participate in the local march because I firmly Read More
Silent Night, Holy Night: Reflections on Mother and Child
Advent is a season of expectation, hope, and preparation for the miracle of God’s entry into our world as a vulnerable infant. But do we pause often enough to ponder the birth itself? The nativity stories found in our sacred texts tell us little about it, though what we know is Mary was a relatively young woman, she was pregnant at an unexpected Read More
Coming Soon: Online Course Offering on Advocacy
I love teaching people about how to do advocacy, so this February I'll be partnering with Drew Theological Seminary to offer an three-part webinar series on advocacy for clergy and congregations. Here's the course overview: From food pantries to global missions, faith communities are known for their acts of mercy and charity that benefit their Read More
Why I’m Not Watching
I'm grateful to Feminism and Religion for allowing me to guest post today on the decision not to watch--and what I've gained by doing so. Read More
Tips for Advocates Who Hate the Phone
I hate talking on the phone. Specifically, I really hate the act of calling people. Will the person pick up? What if I repeat my name several times and they still don't understand me? Am I calling at a bad time? I'm not sure why something this innocuous causes me such anxiety, but I'm not alone. Sometimes I wonder if technology like texting and Read More
Have I Lost My Faith?
Someone asked me out of the blue if I'd lost my faith in Jesus. Context is key to making some sense of this, but the circumstances of this conversation are too bizarre and complicated for me to recount. I could choose to take this opportunity to give an after the fact, impassioned reply to the inquiry, but I would just be acting out of Read More
Covering Up Motherhood
On Saturday I snapped this picture of myself looking in the mirror at a Panera bathroom, wedged between the sink, trash can, and swinging door where I tried my best to cover myself as I pumped breast milk. I'd been attending the Sojourners Summit for Change where I was moved at numerous moments, especially around heartbreaking, yet powerful Read More
Lessons Learned in Advocacy and Organizing
Last week I spoke at the United Methodist Greater New Jersey Annual Conference. The event was hosted by the Conference Commission on Religion and Race, the Conference Board of Church & Society, and the Commission on Christian Unity and Interfaith Relationships. I was asked to speak about how to build ecumenical, diverse teams for justice. Here Read More