“Come away and get some rest”
In Mark's sometimes fast-paced gospel, we read: "The apostles gathered around Jesus and reported to him all they had done and taught. 31Then, because so many people were coming and going that they did not even [...]
Seeing (and loving) the invisible
If you don’t know the suburbs, they can look homogenous, a never ending landscape of tract houses and strip malls. But behind what was designed to be safe and middle class and predictable is an [...]
Run the good race
On my 17-year-old daughter’s bedroom mirror, written in dry erase marker, I read, “Now that I have seen, I am responsible. Faith without deeds is dead.” She posted this reminder when she returned from a [...]
Telling our stories
Last night my 17-year-old daughter and I drove to Chicago’s west side. In East Garfield Park, one of the city’s grittier neighborhoods, we drive slow down Carroll Avenue. In the dusk, small children play in [...]
Making a difference
My 17-year old daughter leans on the open newspaper on the kitchen counter. (Yes, as a former newspaper reporter, I can't quite give up daily delivery of the Chicago Tribune). I love that she reads [...]
Mindful multi-tasking??
In order to attempt to make a living as a writer, you have to be good at juggling. You have to work on more than one project at a time. I remember reading (it may [...]
Self-discovery through service
When my son Aaron had to write an essay in school this year about a difficult experience in his life, he chose to write about having to go to a Christian summer camp for a [...]
Living a missional life
I haven't posted for a few days because I've been enjoying having my daughter back home. She's quite jet-lagged and experiencing a bit of what I call "culture dissonance," but home. She had a marvelous [...]
Limiting “screen time”
Reader and FB friend Lynda wrote to ask a parenting question. I'm no expert, so I'd love your opinion on this: "how do you limit electronics for your children in your home?" Our kids are [...]
Giving what you cannot keep to gain what you cannot lose.
I love to cook, given leisure enough. I make family meals a priority—we try to gather around the table each night, even if it’s for something simple. But busy nights with carpooling and obligation often [...]