Category Archives: Uncategorized

How to Spot a Sociopath

Several years before Donald Trump came into our national life, a sociopath came into mine.  A member of our extended family, Tom,1 had recently come out of another, very troubled marriage and found himself a single father with full custody of their small child, Henry. Although Tom’s mother, Ruby, lived nearby and helped out a lot,Continue reading “How to Spot a Sociopath”

Would the real global church please stand up?

I attended a beautiful Christmas Day church service at a Southern Baptist church in Cape Town, South Africa. The attendees were a racial “rainbow” typical of South Africa, of Cape “Coloureds” (what they call themselves, not derogatory), Black Africans from a few different countries, and a smattering of people whose ethnicity was not readily apparent.Continue reading “Would the real global church please stand up?”

Jesus called. He wants his phone back.

Given my entire life has been defined by a special phone call my father received from The Lord, I have some thoughts about Speaker of the House/Insurrection and Hairspray Enthusiast Mike Johnson claiming God told him “very clearly” his ascension to office was a “Red Sea moment” like Moses.  Calling is a freaking big deal in AmericanContinue reading “Jesus called. He wants his phone back.”

Potlucks and Patriarchy

Well, it’s Christmastime/the Holidays again, when Santa Claus fills the air with magic and the living room with gifts and tables with food and children’s heads with fond memories and churches and offices with community, fun, and fellowship.  ..What’s that? Santa Claus isn’t real? Then who’s doing all that sh*t? The elves?  Oh. Right. It’sContinue reading “Potlucks and Patriarchy”

Missions, Race, and Me

In 1845, what is now the largest Protestant American denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, was born. It also marked the beginning of what has become the largest, most sophisticated missions organization in the history of the world, the International Mission Board, which today send thousands of missionaries around the world and has a budget ofContinue reading “Missions, Race, and Me”

I am colonoscopy-years-old and still can’t assert any kind of authority

Taylor Swift, who is 33, sings, ”I have this thing where I get older but just never wiser.”  Honey, just wait until you are 48 and being b*tch-slapped by a rescue dog who weighs less than a stand mixer.  This is what my days look like now. I am awakened at 7 by Lilo theContinue reading “I am colonoscopy-years-old and still can’t assert any kind of authority”

Faith + Luck + Gratitude (and just a smidge of spite)

The short version is we met through friends. The long version is pretty long, but I think it’s an amazing story. Miraculous even.  I remember in a way that’s more like time travel how I felt flying over the illuminated monuments to see my now-husband, Kevin, for the first time after my divorce. I was raised byContinue reading “Faith + Luck + Gratitude (and just a smidge of spite)”

Homesickness will not get you admitted to the infirmary

If RVA had a Club Med, it was the infirmary.  It was a restful retreat far from the madding crowd with a much lower toilet-per-person ratio, as well as soup and grilled cheese, if you preferred that to the cafeteria meal du jour (this was not a difficult choice).  Like Club Med, however, it hadContinue reading “Homesickness will not get you admitted to the infirmary”

The Savior Complex

Did you hear my covert narcissism I disguise as altruism like some kind of congressman? (Tale as old as time)—Taylor Swift, “Anti-hero” There are two kinds of people, people who feel guilty and people who feel screwed—My husband’s friend Dan, who is equally rock-star-like I just watched the HBO documentary, The Savior Complex, about a young AmericanContinue reading “The Savior Complex”