Today is the memorial of Our Lady of Sorrows, for whom my devotion has grown as the years and the sorrows have accumulated. She’s full of grace, blessed among women, but also wounded. She holds things in her heart. She misses people. She cries sometimes. This time of year I think of Hopkins’ poem SpringContinue reading >>
Women in Bright Colors
Being dismissed never stops being shocking. Despite experience, expertise and passion in a few different areas, there are still plenty of times that colleagues and acquaintances see me – someone who loves to smile and wear fun clothes and is a woman – as just another “chick singer”. You’d think I’d be used to itContinue reading >>
Set down this: Making peace with the Magi – A repost for Epiphany
Reposting this post on the Magi from six years ago, in honor of today’s feast of the Epiphany. In understand this poem better now. “A cold coming we had of it, Just the worst time of the year For a journey, and such a long journey: The was deep and the weather sharp, The veryContinue reading >>
Dirty
In the millenia before Ashtags and selfies and Ashes at Starbucks and neat little crosses administered with freshly washed hands, people knew you meant something if you had ashes on your heads. You were mourning, or were sorrowful, or had done something so damaging to the community that public penance was required. You were oneContinue reading >>
7 ways to observe Lent that have nothing to do with candy
Lent is one of my favorite times of year. Maybe that sounds crazy, but I love discipline, I love religious practices, and I love times that unite our community. I’m not unilaterally opposed to giving up candy for Lent, but I encourage everyone to combine other Lenten commitments to make the time truly transformative. SomeContinue reading >>