By Melissa Jeter“No person is your friend who demands your silence, or denies your right to grow.” —Alice WalkerThe self-determination of both sets of my grandparents helped them survive the Depression. My father’s maternal relatives were skilled craftspeople while owning land and breeding animals.
By Susan Maginn“…to shine upon those who live in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet toward the paths of peace…” –Luke 1:79I drove my government-issued truck into the desert to visit a Marines unit, the familiar cammie netting assuring me: Your people are here. A high-ranking enl
By Leslie Ahuvah Fails “Mothers are able to dream in phenomenal ways. They understand transformation unlike anyone else. Perhaps we should begin to create the space and support for them to dream. Imagine what might happen. Imagine.” —Rachel YoderThere’s something inherently queer about motherhood.
By Tania Márquez “To give someone a blessing is the most significant affirmation we can offer.” –Henri NouwenBlessings were an important ritual at home.Every morning when we were getting ready to leave our home for school, my mom would stand by the gate, where we stopped before taking that first st
By Molly Housh Gordon“When the Sabbath was over, Mary Magdalene, Mary the mother of James, and Salome bought spices so that they might go to anoint Jesus’ body. Very early on the first day of the week, just after sunrise, they were on their way to the tomb and they asked each other, ‘Who will roll
By Summer Albayati“And celebrate the name of God, morning and evening.” –Surah Al-Insan, 76:25Many years ago I experienced a serious crisis of faith. I felt buried by pain and suffering, and I wasn’t sure if I would ever dig my way out to see the sun rise again. This crisis of faith took me on a jo
By Sara Palmer“Fear told me that if I was quiet, I’d be safe. I love safety. It’s my favorite. So I agreed. When I obeyed fear and was quiet, I gave it access to my voice.” –Bunmi LaditanMy young kiddo Samantha and I discovered a honey bee trapped in a spider web, wrapped in a tangle of sticky webb
By Christine Slocum"Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising every time we fail." ―ConfuciusThe first thing they teach you in Brazilian jiu-jitsu is how to fall, or so I’m told. I’ve never tried it. You roll backwards and slap the ground with one or both hands, depending on how you
By David Kohlmeier“In ourselves are the elements of the Divinity. God, then, does not sustain a figurative resemblance to [humankind]. It is the resemblance of a parent to a child, the likeness of a kindred nature.” —William Ellery Channing (1828)In family systems theory, there’s a concept called “
By Quinn Gormley“It is revolutionary for any trans person to choose to be seen and visible in a world that tells us we should not exist.” –Laverne CoxI locked myself out of my car recently. I called a garage and they sent a technician. Apparently, he tried to call me on the way over and I missed it