When Belonging Is Elusive {The Grove: Belong}
One of the rites of passage in my church growing up was when you were old enough not to sit with your parents. Sitting with the other teens, I can remember hearing my mom clear her throat, not in an “um, watch it there Pastor” but in a “something is in my throat” kind of […]
There is One
“So, basically you take off anything that is not part of your body.” Um. Let’s just say that I was not anywhere near ready for the words that came out of my friend’s mouth. I erroneously thought we were headed for a relaxing evening of sitting in our BATHING SUITS in a hot tub. She […]
On Becoming an Outsider
I had never been on the other side before. I grew up as an insider – I was of the majority demographic in my community, raised in the suburbs of Indianapolis. I understood the pop culture references of my friends, we’d grown up watching the same movies and eating the same foods. I served at […]
When We Let Go of Comparison
I have fought most of my life for a place to belong. These battles are too often fraught with comparison. Am I like them? Do I look better or worse, am I as smart, as skinny, as pretty? Have I done cooler things with my life, more important, more Kingdom-focused? Cambodia has not been helpful […]