Wendy with a Why
Writing for me has always been my preferred method to ponder and process all of life. It's grappling and prayer, celebration and lament, wonder... and every so often... epiphany. Wendy with a Why is a collection of essays centered on scripture, social issues, family life and current events. I welcome your comments, criticism (gentle is most welcome), opinions, ideas and inspiration. Only one thing is required, and Aretha has graciously spelled it out for us: R-E-S-P-E-C-T. Please and thank you.
Triggers and Silencers
In case you haven’t noticed yet:
America the beautiful… isn’t.
(It’s not great again either, in my opinion.)
It’s getting uglier, scarier, darker and more dangerous by the day.
Blown Away
What’s going on???
I know, I know. A lot of bad, dark, scary stuff.
But lift your gaze a little higher…
Look up, child.
There’s something stirring.
A River of Tears
How do we make sense of the senseless?
Sometimes… like now… we simply can’t.
I could write volumes about the “whys” and “hows” of the deadly flash flood in Texas but really, that isn’t the point.
Dirty Soles
When I was in college, my friend Melissa washed my feet. It was one of the most unexpected and strangely lovely things that’s ever happened to me.
I was studying journalism (with minors in psychology, film, and frozen yogurt) and while I had plenty of reading assignments to keep me busy, I always circled back to my favorite book. Which also happens to be the best-seller of all time. (According to HuffPost. So it must be true.)
Good Grief
My dad turned 83 last week… but we didn’t gather to celebrate his birthday. Instead, we gathered for his funeral.
I’m home now.
It’s quiet.
And I am becoming reacquainted with grief.
These Dark Days…
December can be manic.
And depressing.
It’s just as Dickens described… the best of times and the worst of times.
People celebrating and people suffering.
Election Re(Cycle)
It’s nearly Election Day in America. And while I’m usually pretty optimistic… (IMHO) our current options don’t exactly inspire confidence.
Yes, there’s a fresh face… and I’m genuinely delighted by that. I’m just not convinced she’s the answer to what ails us.
What’s Brewing
There’s another storm brewing in the Gulf of Mexico.
Right on the heels of Helene…
Ohhh God.
So many storms battering our neighborhoods and the nations.
The Intersection of Religion & Politics
I think there should be a four-way stop at the intersection of politics and religion.
In order to move forward, everyone in every lane needs to come to a full and complete stop, look left and right (double-check those blind spots) and proceed with caution…
Otherwise there’s bound to be a crash.
That One Time…You Had an Abortion
Remember?
(Imagine you do.)
And I invite you to find some solace here.
Peace.
… If that has eluded you.
Searching for Answers (and the Rabbit Hole known as G**gle)
Every waking hour of every single day, we make choices.
A lot of them.
THE Must-Have Gift List
So, what’s on your holiday wish list?
Me… I’ve been eyeing a pair of black suede boots and an antique birdbath.
(What can I say… I’m a Vanity Fair-meets-Southern Living kinda gal these days.)
F R I E N D S
Once upon a time, I went to college with one of the Friends.
David Schwimmer graduated from Northwestern a year after me, but I never got to know him while we were there. I sure did enjoy his work on the show though.
Friends was like comfort food: warm, familiar, savory/sweet/spicy and… well… comforting. (With a heaping side of good humor.)
Motherhood: Muddling through (with a whole lotta heart)
Sunday is all about the mommas.
And that’s a good thing. Because if you’re a mom (young, old, or somewhere in the bleary-eyed, sleep-deprived, daunting, desperate middle) pretty much all the other days are about… well… everybody else.