RECENT POSTS
S8 E18 | The Myth of the Perfect Family—and the Truth of Love with Emily Hunter McGowin, PhD
Apple YouTube Spotify More! What if the perfect family doesn’t exist—and never was supposed to? Theologian Emily McGowin, PhD, joins Amy Julia Becker to explore
Having a Disabled Child Doesn’t Doom a Marriage
I watched the viral video of Grace Clements embracing her dad, the President of Clemson University. They tumble onto the stage together and get up
May 2025 Favorites
Favorite books, essays, podcasts episodes, and more that I enjoyed in the month of April, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to… VIDEO:
Grief and Disability
Grief and Disability from Matthew Mooney on the podcast When a family receives a diagnosis—when they learn their child has a disability—grief often follows. Matthew
Does Disability Mean Tragedy?
Is disability a tragedy? Is it a gift? What place is there for grief and for joy in this story of disability so many of
Reimagining Family Life with Disability—In Person!
Not a tragedy. Not alone. Not without hope. These were the ideas I shared with the families at Walnut Hill Community Church in my first
Intergenerational and Interability Friendships
I feel like I should be too old to have camp friends, but I guess that’s one more gift of getting involved in Hope Heals.
S8 E17 | RFK Jr., Autism, and the Story We Need Instead with Matthew Mooney
Apple YouTube Spotify More! Is disability a tragedy? Is it a gift? What place is there for grief and for joy in this story
The Next Step Matters
I used to hate setting goals for Penny. It felt like I was measuring her worth based on how quickly she achieved something I arbitrarily
April 2025 Favorites
Favorite books, essays, podcasts episodes, and more that I enjoyed in the month of April, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to… Books
Formation in the Wilderness
One of the things Cara and I talk about in this podcast episode is an oversimplified version of Christianity. I’ve been reading through Exodus lately, and I’ve realized
Church Camp: Belonging, Betrayal, and New Beginnings
Roasted marshmallows, campfire stories, shaving cream battles—for some of us, Christian summer camp is where we felt most at home. But for campers at white
S8 E16 | Why I Haven’t Sent My Kids to Church Camp with Cara Meredith
Apple YouTube Spotify More! For some of us, Christian summer camp is where we felt most at home. But for campers at white Evangelical church
When Survival Mode Feels Endless
I didn’t give a great answer to a question I received at an event a few weeks ago. During the question and answer time at
A Response to RFK Jr’s Statements About Autism
The Director of the Department of Health and Human Services, RFK Jr., recently made a series of false statements about autism. He said that autism
On Eagle’s Wings
I’ve been reading through the biblical book of Exodus this Lent, and nearly every day I learn something that helps deepen my understanding of God’s
Disrupting the Status Quo
My friend Patricia and I spent two nights in NYC this past weekend. We walked a gazillion steps, ate a gazillion calories, spoke even more
Honoring the Good, the Hard, and the In Between
There’s something special about connecting with a person who not only lives in the small town where you grew up, but also shares a similar
