I have grown to find much comfort and solace in the beauty of mountains and nature. Perhaps, I think, there are other souls like me who are in awe of mountains and find happiness in birdsong and laughter. Perhaps there are other kindred spirits who are distressed at the world and know what it means …
Mountains and Valleys: A Letter to the Suffering Soul Read More »
As a college student, I am well acquainted with anxiety. Assignments, studying, time with friends, working out, working a job, and thinking about the future are all capable of making even the strongest man anxious. In the professional world, there are work assignments and projects, emails and zoom calls, all needing immediate attention. Our families …
I sit down to write this article and glance at my calendar: Twelve more days till we see each other again. Twenty-two more days till we say “I do.” This past year of being 4,500 kilometers away from the man I love has been anything but easy. I never realized the power of physical contact …
“South Africa is really a country?” I resisted the urge to sigh in frustration as I explained once again that yes, South Africa is a country, not a region of Africa. “Wow, I had no idea,” the lady said after I finished. This was just one of many interactions I’ve had with people in my …
Misunderstood: Use Your Differentness to Love Others Better Read More »
The cuckoo clock on the wall chimed the hour. A quiet house usually brought me comfort, but not today. Alone with my anxious thoughts, I began to despair about the season of life I was in…
I felt lost without many of the identity markers that had defined me for so much of my life. Missionary kid. Foreigner…
And then there are the little things, such as a thoughtless comment about the pronunciation of the “r” that hits us where we are most vulnerable. It hurts us, despite not being a big deal…
Asking one identity question seemed to open the door for more, similar ones. What started as, “Am I really a straight-A student?” turned into, “Am I even smart?” A whole dam of questions unleashed…
If there is one thing that still binds people into groups of “Us” and “Them,” it is culture. Culture is oftentimes the heart of a people.
God has spoken to me before in both English and German. I understand better now that it doesn’t matter if I can’t define the language of my heart.
