I have a recurring dream that varies a bit each time but contains the essentials of shootings, gangs, and retaliation and my own personal endangerment by these things in my community. Not surprising, considering where we live, what we witness and hear about, and what we have cause to fear. When I have this dream,… Continue reading A time to mourn
Category: Los Angeles
Welcome
One of the things Doug and I noticed on our drive from Spokane to Los Angeles was the remarkable civility and warmth we experienced in Washington, Oregon and Northern California. Living in a big city, and maybe especially a place like L.A., there is this shell or crust (or spikes, even) that develops between people:… Continue reading Welcome
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
What are the odds?
Yesterday we went to our OB for my regular check-up, and everything seems to be going smoothly with the pregnancy. Every time we go to their office, we are inundated with questions from the entire staff: “Is everything okay?” “Are you guys staying out of trouble?” “Is there any new crisis to report?” We feel… Continue reading What are the odds?
Ghetto no more
A few things have struck me recently about the changing identity of “urban” as it is used to describe America’s inner cities. As an “urban” minister, this word holds great weight and is filled with meaning for me in terms of the kinds of communities I feel called to: things like under-resourced, underprivileged, multi-ethnic, immigrant,… Continue reading Ghetto no more
Healing
We went to see our OB this morning, and we were once again reassured that everything looks fine with our baby. I am less sore and a bit more functional today, and we received the wonderful surprise last night of Doug’s mom coming from Oregon to spend a few days with us to help out.… Continue reading Healing
“The kind people easily dismiss…”
For all of the jokes and smiles our little phone-line bullet has provided the past two days, I find myself occasionally glancing over at the little lump of metal and shuddering. I have fought back the visual memories of standing in my Chicago apartment bathroom helping one of the young men who had been one… Continue reading “The kind people easily dismiss…”
License to sell
Last night we had out first gathering for weekly prayer for our street. It was great to come together around the purpose of lifting our neighbors and our neighborhood up in prayer, and I am hopeful for how we will see God work in response. We prayed for specific families, for specific buildings, for peace… Continue reading License to sell
Love is in the air
Doug and I will celebrate five years of marriage in June. Five years of life in Los Angeles with one Masters degree earned and a second begun, a new church birthed, and of course, the children! How rich and full and terrifying and beautiful these five years have been. However cheesy Valentine’s Day can feel,… Continue reading Love is in the air