We saw the film Three Identical Strangers last night. Here’s the synopsis of the film from its website: Three strangers are reunited by astonishing coincidence after being born identical triplets, separated at birth, and adopted by three different families. Their jaw-dropping, feel-good story instantly becomes a global sensation complete with fame and celebrity, however, the…
I haven’t published much lately about my birth family discoveries, mainly because some of the more recent ones are taking me a while to process. There continues to be much gift for me through all of the experiences I’ve had, whether they’ve been the joyful reunion kind or the painful answers kind. I’m the kind…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho June 24, 2018 1 John 1 Who, exactly, was Jesus? Was he a teacher who said some cool stuff, a healer who healed some folk, but was pretty much just like you and me—maybe a wiser version of the best of humanity? Was he God,…
The I am From Project has a poem template to encourage conversation. They write: We want to be heard, not herded; we want to speak, not be spoken at or for; we want to break through stereotypes, profiling, and dismissal to be listened to in our full humanity. I encourage you to check out the resources…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho Nov 11, 2017 Amos 5 What does justice look like to you? The image of justice in our nation is of a woman, with a blindfold, holding scales that are perfectly balanced, equitably balanced, just. I’ve always liked this image of Lady Justice. She’s strong.…
The “me too” campaign may have taken 10 years before it really caught fire, but now that so many stories of harassment, assault, and rape are coming out, I’m feeling in equal measure hopeful and horrified. I’m hopeful because when this behavior is brought to the light, it loses it’s power to do damage in…
I recently dressed like Wonder Woman at our church’s Trunk or Treat event. It was great fun. I’ve been planning the costume since I saw the film in the theater. Hours before the event, however, this conversation took place in my mind. Voice: You shouldn’t wear that costume. You were going to lose weight over…
A sermon preached at Southminster Presbyterian Church in Boise, Idaho October 29, 2017 1 Kings 5:1-5, 8:1-13 Autumn has always been my favorite season. Crunching through the leaves as I walked to school. Making big piles of leaves into which we would jump with abandon. Even raking leaves, which at times feels like a sisyphian…
It’s a casualty of my profession, perhaps, but I believe our actions reveal our theology. In other words, the things we do and sometimes the words we say reveal what we believe about the God in whom we claim to believe (or the god in whom we claim we don’t believe). When words and action…
I’ve always believed that language matters. For example, I never refer to someone who is here without documentation as an “illegal”. People cannot be illegal. Their political status may be undocumented. Their behavior may break laws. Their very existence, however, is not a crime. The language we use to describe people orders the way we…
Glass Overflowing 