a novel

A Short Thesis on God Asking “where do you see God?” is like asking if you see the wind. Everyday there is a cyclone raging around us: a winding howl, trees bending, all of life's minutiae scattered by a mighty hand. And we cannot but be moved. Everything is taken up in a divine order. To pick one single thing that had been tossed about and say, “I saw the wind do it,” is not wrong. It simply misses the storm that raged and still blows with a powerful breath. The wind has ahold of everything, we cannot see it, but the effects are clear. Our task is to recognize. Everyday a cyclone rages.  -Joel Nofziger

My summer so far has not been what i expected. learning korean, learning to live outside of an intentional community, learning to live in the moment when i anticipate a million things in the future. it has been interesting, depressing, and some days inspirational. at work i have been learning to love. and in my work, i have been learning to reflect on the role of the church. that at least is something i had hoped for in my summer. and as predicted, i am coming away with more questions than answers. what is more important: to care for the world or to provide meals to homeless at convenience? (aka styrofoam at church meals) to understand god's character or to shout about god's love? (central theme to services) to read scripture that people may not comprehend, or, for the sake of hungry bellies, read and reflect on martin luther king instead ? (rev. choi's reflection on sunday) to serve people's needs in the present or to plant your own theology to shape the future ...

The second Sunday of May. May 13, 2012. International Mothers Day. My planner tells me it is celebrated in USA, CAN, AUS, NZL. Very international. (note the sarcasm).  I have noticed mother's day come and go several times. I pride myself on never forgetting the culturally mandatory, and always rewarding, phone call to my mother, even when she is across the globe. Often I call my grandmother and single aunt as well - they too have been mothers in my life.  This year, however, I was struck by how Mother's Day, with it's focus on gift giving and flowers designed both to empower the economy and praise feminine domesticity, losses sight of the character of mothering.  I celebrated Mother's Day with "The House of Peace," a church community run through Fourth Street Community Fellowship (Virginia Mennonite Conference) for the impoverished and homeless of inner city Washington, D.C. In honor of thee occasion, Rev. Sang Jin Choi asked members to share test...

after spending a weekend celebrating the wedding of one of my closest girl friends, i have relocated to the district of columbia. as i have contemplated this move with friends and professors, they all asked the same questions: "do you like cities?" so, do i like cities? a few years ago i am sure i would have answered "nope. too busy. too crowded. give me space and green, mountains and clean, open air." however, this spring, as i contemplated city life, i thought back to my summer in Winnipeg with Aunt Chris. i thought about the freedom and joy of public transportation. i though about long walks with friends where your feet can bring you the world. I loved seeing the diversity, interacting with communities, and watching life take place. I love my space, green, mountains, and fresh air at EMU. I love the view from atop the hill, the way the sunset looks over the valley, the fact that i can go barefoot. all that is true. but honestly, i was looking forward to th...

The Reality of Love by Joshua Enns Soft, true lips. Bodies open to embrace touch.        Clothes, walls, fear – fall to the earth overwhelmed by love Rough, good-working hands. Cut and calloused fingers interlock and clutch.        Isolation, emptiness, busyness – fall to the earth overwhelmed by relationship Strong, intentioned feet. Dancing and determined to destroy the distance between us.       Disparity, apathy, normalcy – fall to the earth overwhelmed by interconnectivity Soft, true lips. Rough, good-working hands. Strong, intentioned feet. Meet here. Meet now. Inside me. Inside us. You are the midwives of life. Love. Relationship. Interconnectivity. Meet here. Meet now. Inside me. Inside us. You are the midwives of life. Incite understanding of the past, Burning passion for the present and, Holy hope for the future.

After a long school year filled with good friends, hard work, newspaper editing, and wonderful memories I finally find myself with a week to process and rest before the whirlwind begins all over again. I spent the 8 months, my junior year (3rd year), at Eastern Mennonite  University in Harrisonburg, VA. I worked hard, played some, and enjoyed myself immensely. Along with taking a full course load both semesters, I  co-edited the school newspaper with my good friend Joel Nofziger. This meant late Wednesday nights (the paper publishes on Thursdays), directing a staff of near 20 writers, editors, and photographers, and putting out an 8 page tabloid each week.  My writing improved a million fold and I won first place from the Virginia Student Press Association for my editorial writing in the fall.  You can check out the online version of the paper at  http://weathervane.emu.edu/ . After spending all that time together, Joel and I began dating in Mar...