Columns

After worship on Sunday, the church I serve as pastor has a fellowship hour, when everyone comes together, enjoys coffee and snacks, and visits with one another. It’s a beautiful time and a great way to start the week. Snacks and goodies are a treat — and then there’s the…

I’ve learned to expect the unexpected when dealing with my bleeding disorders. A few days ago, I took a bike ride with my twin nephews who were visiting from Wisconsin. My small city of Punta Gorda, Florida, has a great bike loaner program. Bicycles, tricycles, and handcycles are available…

Given all the mass shootings, economic uncertainty, and contentious political discourse happening in the United States right now, it’s easy to see that our country is in a state of chaos. Yet, I continue to draw hope from the words of Maya Angelou: “When you know better, do…

One of my favorite programs is CBS “Sunday Morning,” which my husband and I record and watch on Sunday afternoons. One of its recent stories brought me to tears. At Glen Lake Elementary in Hopkins, Minnesota, several students have physical disabilities. The children in Betsy Julien’s fifth grade class…

Tattoos and piercings are artistically and sociologically significant in cultures across the globe. Throughout history, people have held varying opinions about each. But now that we’re a more global community, these skin-deep forms of self-expression have largely become mainstream. I have a couple tattoos, as well as numerous piercings in…

In September, I decided to revamp my pathetic and inconsistent fitness routine. In a moment of desperation, I ordered a Peloton bike. I needed to lose weight and was out of shape. Not a good feeling. With my bleeding disorders, walking causes my foot and knee to swell. I…

As a pastor, one of my favorite things to do is to mentor men and women who respond to a call to ordained ministry. I enjoy theological conversations that spark great debates and critical analysis. Mentees and I form a collegial bond that lasts many years. First, I help them…

In the early days of a diagnosis, emotions run wild. Anxiety, helplessness, and anger are a few feelings that cloud the mind, and it’s difficult to even begin to understand what lies ahead. In 1996, my first son, Julian, was born and diagnosed with severe hemophilia A. In…

My husband and I have always found ourselves living in between places. The first apartment we moved to was in a hub between three cities. Now we live on the border between two cities. Just a few streets away from us is a sign that says, “Thank…

Last year, I met Kayla Mack through a Facebook group for people with von Willebrand disease (VWD). Kayla has type 3, a severe form of the condition. She reached out to the group for help after a terrifying visit to the emergency room. She wrote, “I’m getting very afraid…