A Failure to See

I see youWalking down a tightrope,Gun to back.You are smilingbutI seethe beads of sweatthat gather at your collarAs the crowd roars. I’m watching youWatch your self worthrise and fallthrough another’s eyes.Eyes that confuseand misconstrue.Eyes that can’tSee. Look at me and answer honest:Aren’t you tired?Aren’t you anxious?Aren’t you wishing they would just let up?I bet if … More A Failure to See

I’d like to think

There are certain times, certain hours, certain days and certain months, I’d like to bypass if I could. For example: Valentine’s Day. Some baby showers. New Year’s Eve, when the clock strikes midnight. And the faint – yet burning – flickers of envy, sorrow, and shame that flood my heart when another friend texts me … More I’d like to think

Intention

It’s taking the dirt road home, not because it’s quicker, but because it’s beautiful. It’s eye contact, “how are yous,” and hugs that comfortably linger. It’s the gentle squeeze of my palm in your palm at the word “amen.” And when they remember, “no sugar, just a little cream,” at the local coffee shop because … More Intention

Stars and Grace: I

Something I do when my heart is overwhelmed is look up at the stars. I tilt back my head and let my hair fall loose, feeling like I did back in the tenth grade while standing at the rim of the Grand Canyon, at sunset. It was June and I was sixteen. Tourists flocked at the edge, … More Stars and Grace: I

The Words that Hold it All Together

It’s late August now in Michigan, and crickets croak in the afternoon heat. Their song is comforting and smooth, a predictable symphony that will usher in a Midwest autumn. By September the leaves will start to turn. Cinnamon and nutmeg, cardigans and leather boots. Burgundy, eggplant. The seasons won’t delay. But, right now it’s still the in-between, with both sticky air … More The Words that Hold it All Together

On Hard Seasons

Here’s to the hard seasons. Here’s to the hard seasons built by moments that started small and few, but spiraled towards much and many- the culmination of difficult feats and disastrous blows. Here’s to the seasons that humble you, to the seasons that lay you flat and strip you bare. Here’s to the transitions that remind you, once … More On Hard Seasons

Carrots And Dreams

Mothering itty bitty vegetables from seed to harvest has been a strange desire on my bucket list for years. Carrots, with their knobby roots and wild stems, have always been a particular fancy of mine. Every summer I fantasize of the satisfaction that must follow yanking one of those stubborn vegetables from the ground. I imagine firmly gripping each bushy stalk and giving … More Carrots And Dreams