Category: essays

Man sitting on a park bench reading a newspaper

What I’ve Learned in 2023

I wanted to reflect upon what I learned this year, and also think of how my knowledge will affect my choices and behaviors in the new year…

When Church Becomes the State

Sometimes we think that by making our country an explicitly religious one, we will solve our problems. But the results are always worse.

The Quarantine of Emotions

If you haven’t been paying attention, there’s a play running right now in New York City that’s controversial and provoking. … More

Man sitting on bench by church

A Place We Cannot Enter

I’ve watched my friends express their shock, their hurt, their anger, their outrage, their fury, their fear, their hopelessness, their isolation, their understanding of their own oppression in a society that does not see them. Does not value them. Does not, from beginning to end, love them.

Red pipe going up and over an obstacle

When We Don’t Want to Know

Ignorance is sometimes a lack of opportunity. We don’t have access to resources, including people and their lived experiences, to … More

Leaf floating on water

When You Fall

I write and edit for a living, and I write for fun. I have a few novels in progress, with … More

Of Course I’m Racist

I don’t think I’ve ever been called a racist—not because I’m not, but because the people in my life are … More

Cannon facing the harbor ready to fire

#WakingUpWhite Chapter 29: Intent and Impact

The process of “waking up white” isn’t just to be aware of whiteness. It is to wake up, and then to leave it. To go to something that’s better and more life-affirming and full of health. And to not even be sure where the destination is, but with the calm assurance that it’s out there.

Feats of Clay

Our heroes are flawed. Our villains have moments of redemptive grace. We live in a complex world, where we cannot … More

Converting the Unconvertable

You cannot change someone’s mind through the presentation of fact. That presentation of fact happens later, after they are willing … More

Am I Racist?

This is a hard question for white people to answer because it is painful to consider. Short answer: Yes. You … More

On Empathy

Some helpful techniques and guidance about how to listen when people tell you something about themselves. It’s called empathy: When … More

A Jury of One’s Peers

You may (or may have not) seen video circulating recently showing the last moments of black American men shot by … More

What Must We Then Do?

I’m a Christian, and I also believe in the power of reason. I don’t think anyone is convinced to switch … More

Just Words / Just Words

Much of what is happening now in the world of the Internet and the media focuses on several issues: The … More