My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
What Is Not Mine to Carry?
My shoulder started to hurt the day our kids went back to school after Thanksgiving break. I hadn’t done anything to injure it. Not even
An Introduction: Things I Love (or Not!)
There are lots of new people in this space lately, so I wanted to pause for a minute and introduce myself and share a few
Friday Favorites: Novels, a Memoir, and Podcasts
For my Friday Favorites this week, I’m sharing two novels, one memoir, and several podcast episodes. Quick Links: All That is Secret The Whole Language
Meritocracy Is the Antithesis to Love | Plough Essay
Meritocracy is the antithesis to love. I first wrote those words almost two years ago, when we were traveling cross-country and we were taking regular
S5 E7 | How the Indigenous New Testament Helps Us All with Terry Wildman
“In some ways we judge the story by the storyteller.” Colonialism corrupted the beautiful message of the Gospel when it forced Christianity on Indigenous people.
Still Time to Join Me This Advent Season!
If you are still looking for a way to prepare spiritually for Christmas this year, you can still order Prepare Him Room (order here) and get
5 Sure Signs of Middle Age
5 sure signs of middle age: —Our teenagers tuck me into bed every night. —Comfort matters so much more than fashion. —Our kids provide regular
Returning to My Series on Gratitude
In 2019 I wrote a series of posts on gratitude. This year I’m returning again to the truths I wrote in that series two years ago,
Kyle Rittenhouse Verdict
For any white people who don’t understand why Black people are upset about the Rittenhouse verdict, this lack of understanding points to what many Black
Friday Favorites: What I’m Reading
Three favorites that I’m reading this week: One inspirational interview, one novel, and one parenting book. Quick Links: Why I Quit the Klan The Corrections
There Are Joys in Editing a Manuscript
And I am still editing, round three. Writing a book is like thinking you’re running a marathon and finding out that you accidentally signed up
Talking About Pain: Helpful or Harmful?
Last week, I read a series of seven articles in the NYT that considered chronic pain from a variety of different angles. As someone who
S5 E6 | Black Jesus, White Spaces, and Sacred Beauty with Danté Stewart
Black literature powerfully expands our theological imaginations. Danté Stewart, writer, speaker, and author of Shoutin’ in the Fire, talks with Amy Julia Becker about literature,
An Age of Longing
We are living in an age of longing. When I was younger, I read “classic American novels” about people (mostly boys) who sought after truth,
Dance Theatre of Harlem
It was quite a gift to watch the Harlem Dance Theatre with Penny on Thursday. First of all, the dancing itself was beautiful and powerful
Fully Vaccinated: Almost There!
The final one out of five Beckers on her way to fully vaccinated!
Reflection Questions to Accompany Advent Devotional
We are already making plans for Christmas. The kids have given me their gift lists, via Google docs, with hyperlinks. The girls have started working
Ruth and the Quartet of the Vulnerable
I never knew the book of Ruth was a book about social justice. I’ve been reading it recently with a small group Bible study, though,
FINAL Final Draft of To Be Made Well
My current stack of books: When the Body Says No Life of the Beloved God’s Hotel No Cure for Being Human Becoming Friends of Time
Is Health the Absence of Illness?
I’ve been working on a new introduction for my next book (To Be Made Well: An Invitation to Wholeness, Healing, and Health). My editor felt
And Then They Grew Up…
And then they grew up, and each went off with their respective friends, and they came home with lots of candy. (Here’s what happens when
God Didn’t Create Any Ugly Humans
A prominent pastor and theologian spoke at length earlier this week about why God might make some people unattractive. He lumped together “ugliness” with disfigurement
Grateful I Get to Do This Work
When I receive responses like this, I can only feel grateful that I get to do this work: “My daughter and I thoroughly enjoyed your
Filled with the Fullness
A font of overflowing water. That’s the image that comes to mind when I read Ephesians 3 and Paul is praying that we could grasp
S5 E5 | The Enneagram: A Tool for Healing with Suzanne Stabile
In a society filled with disconnect and division, how can the Enneagram guide us toward compassionate living within our communities? Suzanne Stabile, teacher and author
We Are Not as Divided as We Think We Are
We are not as divided as we think we are. Climate Change Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist and an evangelical Christian, mentioned on a podcast
3 Quirky Things About Me!
Three quirky things to know about me: My wardrobe is becoming entirely composed of white and navy blue. When I traveled to Florida to speak
Friday Favorites: The Best of Enemies
If you like true stories that are also inspirational and suggest that love really can overcome hatred and fear, you have to watch The Best
Small Talk Book Birthday
I got to hold a baby yesterday. A bright-eyed baby who smells soft and sweet (I know—how does someone smell soft, but she really did)
Why I Need to Follow Black Jesus
For years, the idea of “Black Jesus” confused me. I understood why we needed to subvert the all-too-familiar image of Jesus as blonde-haired and blue-eyed.
