My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing

Love: Sentiment or Commitment
“Love is not a sentiment. It is a commitment…” As I drove home from a beautiful weekend in Richmond at St. Mary’s Episcopal Church, I

Journaling with My Non-Dominant Hand and What I Learned
I’ve been meeting with a spiritual director once a month for the past few months, and recently she challenged me to observe the season of

Jean Vanier and Abuse: Is His Work Discredited?
Jean Vanier, founder of the L’Arche community, beloved author, speaker, teacher, and mentor to thousands, winner of the Templeton prize—sexually abused multiple women over the

The Truth About Disability and Siblings
“How do your other children react to having a sister with Down syndrome?” People ask this question frequently, both out of curiosity and also from

How to Start Reading the Bible
Download E-Book I remember when I was in high school and I first wanted to read the Bible. I wasn’t sure what I believed about

Is Not Wearing a Bikini an Act of Modesty or Shame
Is not wearing a bikini an act of modesty or shame? I really don’t like wearing bathing suits. I’m not even talking about bikinis. One-piece

The Ethics of Abortion
The ethics of abortion. Twice a year, I Skype with a class of high school students at the Riverdale School in New York City during

A Model for Race and Justice Events
A MODEL FOR RACE AND JUSTICE EVENTS—It was a tremendous honor to stand alongside my friend and colleague Natasha Sistrunk Robinson last Thursday night at

Race, Sex, Faith, and the Halftime Show
The Superbowl halftime show: salacious or celebratory? Empowering or objectifying? After the halftime show last Sunday, and after noticing really different reactions to it from

Really Good Bacon and the Expansive Love of God
The expansive love of God filled my weekend with the women of White Memorial Presbyterian Church at a retreat in Pinehurst, NC. It was such

Caregiving: The Humble Act of Bathing
In caregiving, the humble act of bathing requires deep trust and deep care. Here’s what it taught me about God. Have you ever washed another

AJB Recommends: Privilege and Race Podcasts
Amy Julia Recommends is a new feature on my blog where I’ll compile recommendations for podcasts, books, articles, etc., that I’ve shared on my social

AJB Recommends: Faith and Family Podcasts
Amy Julia Recommends is a compilation of recommendations for podcasts, books, articles, etc., that I’ve shared on my social media platforms. This edition of Amy

Four Tips on Teaching Your Child with Down Syndrome to Read
Teaching your child with Down Syndrome to read is an opportunity for you to welcome your child into reading with love. Here’s a glimpse of

Harriet: Hope in the Face of Oppression
Harriet’s hope in the face of oppression and injustice—this true story of courage, faith, and hope is worth watching. I used to think that the

What 7 Nights in an RV Taught Me About a Cotton Candy Life
Seven nights in an RV taught me about a cotton candy life and the invitation to a different way, a way that leads to full

William’s Book Recommendations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day
Book recommendations for Martin Luther King Jr. Day! Here are some of William’s book picks (plus a few bonus recommendations). One of the fun things

Civil Rights Tour Itinerary
Here is a potential Civil Rights tour itinerary for anyone wanting to embark on a quick tour to learn about the legacy of slavery, Jim

Our Four-Day Civil Rights Tour
Our family took a short civil rights tour through the southeast that included stops at a plantation in Louisiana and various sites and museums in

We All Need Healing from Racism
We All Need Healing from Racism is part of a series of posts I’m sharing, written by people who read White Picket Fences and responded

4 Things I Learned from Going Away for 40 Days
Going away for 40 days! As regular readers of this blog will remember, in late November, our family went away for 40 days, embarking on

Creating a More Equitable World
Creating a More Equitable World is part of a series of posts I’m sharing, written by people who read White Picket Fences and responded to

The Long, Slow Work of Healing
The Long, Slow Work of Healing is part of a series of posts I’m sharing, written by people who read White Picket Fences and responded

Announcing Head Heart Hands Action Guide
Download FREE PDF: Head Heart Hands I’m excited to announce Head Heart Hands, which is an action guide designed to equip anyone who wants to

Overcoming Social Divisions
Our social divisions will only be overcome through collective and connected action that grows out of relationships of love, powered by a love that is

Three Heroes of 2019
My three heroes of 2019! I’m someone who really enjoys looking back on what has already happened and planning ahead for what is to come.

Speaking at the Festival of Faith & Writing
Years ago, I saw an ad in an issue of Books and Culture for something called the Festival of Faith & Writing. The name of

#26: Jesus Came from a Dysfunctional Family
Episode #26 — Jesus Came from a Dysfunctional Family: I’m sneaking in one more bonus episode of the podcast because I couldn’t resist and because

#25: Merry Christmas
Episode #25 — Merry Christmas: Our children will open presents today, and their joy at receiving gifts that they cannot buy for themselves will remind

#24: Birthday Party for Jesus
Episode #24 — Birthday Party for Jesus: Our tradition on Christmas Eve is to throw a birthday party for Jesus. As we approach the mayhem