I used to believe that fear was the mark of weakness. I grew up with anxiety that really did weaken me, because of the pain that came with it: the turning stomach, racing thoughts, and hyper-vigilance that made me feel like I’d downed fifteen cups of coffee. Rarely did I have the choice whether to […]
Tookish Bagginses
We learned how to be at home even as we stayed at home in 2020. We planted zinnias and baked bread from scratch and walked the countryside and waved to our neighbors, and to me, it’s all felt very Shire-like. If my friends weren’t losing their grandparents or my church members slipping out of fellowship, I wouldn’t […]
Tom Bombadil Hospitality
While reading aloud The Lord of the Rings to my two oldest daughters for the first time, I have been repeatedly struck by something: the power of hospitality. The larger world that Frodo and company are thrust into can be perilous, even a bit grim, but it is never over much. Why, one might ask? […]
Reframing Faith Through Fantasy
Have you ever tried to move something with your mind? Maybe there was a pencil on the table, and you thought really hard about making it roll. Do you remember what it felt like to try to use a power that you don’t have? Maybe you frowned, gritted your teeth, clenched your fists, or burst […]
We Wait in the Darkness: Some Thoughts for Advent
The first week of December holds an infamous anniversary for me. This time last year, I found myself flat on my back for nearly a full week after I was hit full-force by a most memorable stomach virus. At the time, pre-pandemic, it seemed like about the worst thing anyone could endure; certainly, for me, […]
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