Apr
26
“Hunger only for a taste of justice, hunger only for a world of truth.”
Filed Under general, Philadelphia, Messiah College Philadelphia Campus, home, learning | 5 Comments
Leaving Philadelphia has me feeling particularly melancholy. Today, describing to Dr. Peterson a wonderful encounter I had on the City Hall bus, my favorite Messiah professor said to me, “See, those are experiences you just can’t have in Harrisburg.”
“What are you doing to me!?” I exclaimed. “Don’t say that! I have to go back and […]
Apr
19
Father, Father, Father—help us.
Filed Under general, Philadelphia, government, Christianity, learning, grace, politics | 4 Comments
One of Anne Lamott’s favorite prayers is “Help me, help me, help me.” It is a plea that has certainly entered into my own repertoire since I moved to north Philadelphia: not just because my mother fears for my life on these mean (or, in my own mind, merely disgruntled) streets, but because almost everywhere […]
Apr
16
“In the face of suffering, there is no doubt in my mind that God calls us to respond.”
Filed Under general, Democrat, government, Christianity, theology, Hillary Clinton | 2 Comments
Until about four months ago, I was a die-hard Hillary Clinton supporter. I’d always been a fan of Barack Obama since his speech at the 2004 Democratic National Convention, but Hillary had something compelling about her strength, her determination, her ability to move successfully and progressively within the confines of the (inevitably corrupt) U.S. political […]
Apr
9
Something that stirs.
Filed Under general, me, learning | 2 Comments
College isn’t an easy place to become a morning person. Which was nice for two years of my college experience, because I’m not a natural morning person and my years of growing up and rising early to catch the schoolbus didn’t encourage early-morning practices, either. (Mostly it encouraged brief showering, seconds-only tooth-brushing, haphazard dressing, and […]
Apr
8
Where did I put that pasta strainer?
Filed Under general, writing, learning | Leave a Comment
I found this little tidbit in a portfolio I once put together for my Creative Writing class. The prose surprised me, and it seems like something I should share. So enjoy. And try to figure out what’s fact and what’s fiction.
When I was young I wrote in the damp space beneath the kitchen sink, or […]
Apr
6
I am grounded, I am humbled, I am one with everything.
Filed Under general, Philadelphia, Messiah College Philadelphia Campus, academics, Grantham, Kimya Dawson | Leave a Comment
This was me last weekend, cutting through the collapsing mesh fence (for the purposes of putting up another, better one) that once surrounded the Uber Street Garden. Later in the day, I somehow contracted poison ivy. (Eying the picture you will note the strangeness of this occurrence, as I was wearing long sleeves and pants.) […]