The Letters I Wish I Could Write: On Mental Health & The Church

Sometimes I wish I could write a letter to the woman I asked to pray for me in sixth grade, telling her I was always scared. I wish I could tell her that when she asked me what I was scared of, I couldn't think of a single specific thing. But I could still feel…

On Stewardship, Speculation, & Love’s Pursuits

"The aim of our charge is love that issues from a pure heart and a good conscience and a sincere faith" (1 Tim. 1:5). These words are important, and it matters that we understand why they were penned. We can read in Acts 20 (particularly verses 29-35) that pretty much from the beginning of his work in Ephesus,…

What My Old Lyrics Taught Me: On Authenticity, Shame, & Growing Up in Church

Music is my home, something I was made to live in. But I've faced rejection, limitations, discouragement, and over time I allowed those things to bury my passion. It still lived, but I wouldn't listen to its outcry for my attention; I pretended it was small and didn't matter too much to me. But it always did.…

On Struggling & Peace

I don't usually like telling the stories behind my artwork. Often I want to, but then I remember a friend who told me about a piece of mine that connected a few dots for her. What she gained from it was not at all what I'd meant in those brushstrokes, but it was just as meaningful. I don't…

On Getting My Hopes Up

I might be the biggest idealist I've ever known. Even if I'm just stopping by the store, I get excited about who I could see there and what the experience could be like. Maybe it's part of my design to be hopeful. But I live on earth. And it's beautiful here, but it's broken, too. So hopes can…

On Reading My Life’s Story

I have this strange habit of staying up until at least midnight because I want to see the memories Facebook saved for me in the "On This Day" app. I've been using Facebook since I was about fourteen, so there's some cringey gold to be found. But I was also deeply depressed for a little…

On The Unfinished Things

I visited an art-focused thrift store last week. They carry things that a lot of people would probably throw away or recycle, and they display art made with those things, art that shakes your shoulders and exclaims, "Look at all the cool stuff you could do! Get out of your box, silly! Try your crazy idea!…