Christmas is my favorite time of the year. Even though we don’t have changing seasons here in the Arabian Desert, it’s still cool enough to enjoy a leisurely walk outside. Since we don’t technically have an autumn and we skip seasons from hottest, to hotter, to just plain hot, our family takes the liberty of putting up our Christmas trees in October. And yes, it’s true, we have four trees. We...
There is something about the holidays that brings our longings for peace to the surface. Some look forward to a break from everyday demands, meaningful time with loved ones, and the comfort of familiar traditions. Yet for others, this time of year brings fresh reminders of hardship, estrangement, or significant loss. Whether we anticipate these months with eagerness or apprehension, our desire...
“I said, ‘O Lord God of heaven, the great and awesome God whokeeps covenant and steadfast love with those who love him andkeep his commandments, let your ear be attentive andyour eyes open, to hear the prayer of your servant that Inow pray before you day and night for the peopleof Israel your servants, confessing the sins of thepeople of Israel, which we have sinned against you.’” — Nehemiah...
Brave New World. 1984. The Giver. The Hunger Games. Divergent. These are just a few of the notable novels that come to mind when I think of cultural commentary dressed as dystopian drama. Each story speaks to something true about character, human development, and the ills of society. But each also paints a sinister, unsettling future. This essay is not a critique of these authors or their books...
One of parenting’s greatest paradoxes is that the moments we think matter the least often matter the most. As parents, grandparents, caregivers, and mentors, it is easy to get caught up in the big things. We think about milestones, birthdays, vacations, championships, graduations, and successes. We worry if our kids are learning enough, succeeding enough, and ready for what comes next. Yet when...
