I wouldn’t be here without the affirming voices of friends and loved ones challenging me when I say, “Black women don’t get to be sick.” “Black women don’t get to be sick.” so often feels like the song of our land. Today, I declare that as a lie from the pit of hell. And some … Continue reading Living Through Chronic Illness as a Black Woman
Our Church Refused to Pay Reparations, So We Did It Ourselves
The idea was simple. We asked our church to set up a reparations fund in Reverend Jehu Jones’ name. Rev. Jehu Jones was a Black Lutheran Preacher from 1832-1851 who was never paid. We asked for $32K in reparations annually: the amount of the salary he was denied, adjusted for inflation. We considered this to … Continue reading Our Church Refused to Pay Reparations, So We Did It Ourselves
Pastors are Exhausted…Give them a Sabbath
It’s a radical idea, I know. Every time I pose the question to a harried, sleep-deprived pastor, the answer is the same: “Cancel church!?” The requite gasps of alarm end the discussion as quickly as they start. But I think the question is worth asking. Especially during a worldwide pandemic. Church leaders are saddled with … Continue reading Pastors are Exhausted…Give them a Sabbath
Leviticus, Social Distancing, & The Plague: A Short Story
This story is a fictional re-imagining of a heroic doctor who wrote the rules in the Biblical book of Leviticus. Public health, disease transmission, social distancing, and community health were questions they really did wrestled with in the Hebrew Bible. Leviticus 14:8–9 “The person to be cleansed must wash their clothes, shave off all their … Continue reading Leviticus, Social Distancing, & The Plague: A Short Story
Black Women, We Must Prioritize Our Own Health
Confession: I have overextended myself for people in my life who were unable to reciprocate with love and kindness. Because of my own history of neglect and trauma, at times I have allowed people to walk all over me instead of setting firm boundaries of what I will and will not tolerate. In many instances … Continue reading Black Women, We Must Prioritize Our Own Health
God is In Control is Not an Excuse for Inaction
Throughout the hellish week that was Election Week, some Christians relied on numerous platitudes to help navigate the various emotions and tensions they struggled with. One common platitude, mentioned by Christians across the political and theological spectrum, focused on God’s sovereignty. I saw numerous Facebook posts, Instagram memes, and tweets expressing a variation of “No … Continue reading God is In Control is Not an Excuse for Inaction