Yesterday I was reading a woman’s account of her experience in a primarily Anglo Christian ministry in college. She is Mexican-American, and I appreciated her tender honesty concerning how she was made to feel by what I imagine were the very sincere attempts made by one group of people at loving and embracing another. Reading… Continue reading Listening
Category: Culture
Se habla espanol
Lately I have been working harder at teaching our kids Spanish. Doug is of the mind that I should talk with them only in Spanish at home, and while that sounds great in theory, he will be quick to tell you that it has not really happened. Mercy and Aaron both know a good number… Continue reading Se habla espanol
A mother’s cry
We just had a shooting down the street. I was putting the kids down when our apartment was filled with the sound of gunfire. It was so loud and there were so many shots: more than I have ever heard here before. Aaron started to scream from his crib and I raced into his room… Continue reading A mother’s cry
Always with us
In discussions regarding economics, poverty and the like, people will call upon the words of Jesus that proclaim that the poor will always be among us. Many people have a sense that, well, inequality is just a result of the nature and function of social and economic systems, and they are certainly right. I have… Continue reading Always with us
Quotation of the Week
Not too long ago, those of us at the Simple Way were about to speak to a congregation. The person doing the introduction said, “These folks are a voice for the voiceless.” And something inside me hurt. I gently corrected them. Everyone has a voice. I know many amazing people who have used the old… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
My way
This afternoon I went inside a little party supply shop down the street. I needed to purchase a dozen balloons for our recruitment today at the local grade school for the summer camps that next week’s Vacation to L.A. team will host. As I walked up and down the two cramped aisles of the tiny… Continue reading My way
Quotation of the Week
“They send you, by yourself? Where are your lights? Where are your trucks? Your cameras?” he demanded. “You can tell your supervisor that I was displeased! Displeased with you coming out here with a little digital camera–a little digital camera–for this! Where are your trucks?” Martin, a retired school-district worker, assumed a look of disgust.… Continue reading Quotation of the Week
What we really care about
Late Saturday night, our apartment suddenly filled with the noise of hovering helicopters. I peeked out the bathroom window and saw at least four, just sitting above us a few blocks away. I looked out the living room window and counted six. Clearly it was a news frenzy, so I flipped on the TV for… Continue reading What we really care about
Out on the curb
Saturday afternoon, Aaron took me for a walk around the block and we ended up at our good friends’ house around the corner for a few times down the slide and some fun playing catch with their big pink ball. As we were leaving their house to come back home, a piece of furniture that… Continue reading Out on the curb
Backyards and washing machines
When Doug and I moved here, we brought with us the nice washer and dryer that I had bought during my single in Portland days. Having done the laundromat/quarters-in-the-basement thing for years, I had really come to appreciate having my own laundry facilities. The first year that we lived here, I can remember various people… Continue reading Backyards and washing machines