My latest thoughts on
faith, family, disability,
privilege, and healing
Time for an Introduction
Time for an introduction! Every month, more and more people start following this account—I’m so glad you are here. I want to introduce myself and
S5 E20 | Disability Belongs in Church with Dr. Amy Kenny
While Jesus welcomed the disabled, the poor, and the outcast, Christian communities are often spaces of exclusion. Dr. Amy Kenny is a disabled scholar, a
How Can We Respond to All the Injustice and Suffering?
Recent news has been filled with brutality and evil. War in Ukraine. Shooting upon shooting upon shooting. And a report by the Southern Baptist Convention
Penny’s Dance Fest
Penny performed on stage for the first time in three years this past weekend. And, as I often do in these moments, I held my
Reshaping Our Cultural Imagination
Our cultural imagination right now is being shaped by the lies and distortions of commercialism and materialism and violence. When we allow entertainment and productivity
Another School Shooting: Is There Light in the Darkness?
“Darkness cannot drive out darkness, only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate, only love can do that.” –Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King,
Win To Be Made Well Audiobook
To Be Made Well is now available as an audiobook, and I’m giving away a download. Here’s how to enter the audiobook giveaway: Rate and
The Link-Up (April/May 2022)
Here are my top 5 recommendations of what to read or listen to from the past month that I shared in my monthly update (you
Let Me Read To Be Made Well To You!
I forget sometimes that books used only to be read out loud. Before the advent of the printing press, before the vast majority of adults
To Be Made Well: A Literal Healing Product
Who knew that To Be Made Well is a literal healing product? Kate Rademacher sent me this sweet email about reading the book: “I flew
Whom Do You Follow?
In the weeks leading up to William’s confirmation at church, we talked a lot about what it meant to stand up in front of a
A Glimpse of Hope for Healing the Wounds of Racism
I’ve struggled a bit this past week to understand how much the Buffalo shooting should be understood in a wider context of racism in the
The Promise of Jesus’ Resurrected Body
If you ever need a good ice breaker, you can say, “Tell me the story of one of your scars.” People will tell you about
The Problem of Insidious White Supremacy
At church on Sunday, we prayed for the families of the victims of last weekend’s horrific and racially-motivated mass shooting in Buffalo, NY. In our
S5 E19 | Resting in a Restless World with Kate Rademacher
What does rest in a restless world look like? Kate Rademacher, public health expert and author of Reclaiming Rest, talks with Amy Julia Becker about
The Kaleid Project and To Be Made Well
I’ve started hearing from groups around the country that are using To Be Made Well for discussion and teaching. Some of these groups are a
The IEP Meeting Every Child With a Disability Deserves
Peter and I both cried at Penny’s annual meeting to discuss her IEP (Individualized Education Plan) goals. We cried because we were so overwhelmed with
Teaching Our Children What We Are FOR
Eboo Patel’s essay for the New York Times Tuesday reminded me that I want to teach our kids what we are FOR as a family.
Vivian Mabuni Endorses To Be Made Well
I’m so struck by Vivian Mabuni’s description of our world: “weary, splintered, and hurting.” And I’m so grateful that she sees To Be Made Well
God Would Make a Real Bad Farmer
I am not a gardener. I love beautiful flowers and I welcome farm-to-table vegetables. But I do not provide such things for myself. And even
Abortion and People With Disabilities
Last week’s leak of a draft of a Supreme Court opinion that would overturn Roe v. Wade has people talking (yelling?) about abortion all over
A Mom’s Circles of Grace
On Thursday, I got in the car at 3:20 to pick Penny up at school and take her to dance. Then I came home to
Anxiety Has Served and Failed Me
Anxiety has served me as a fuel for achievement, but it has failed me as a guide to getting well. –To Be Made Well Worry
Hope Heals: Partnership of Hope and Healing
Last week, I had the honor of spending 24 hours with the board and staff and co-founders of Hope Heals. The time reminded me of
Roe v. Wade: Questions to Ask About the Supreme Court’s Draft
I find myself conflicted when it comes to the politics of abortion and Roe v. Wade. I’m like most Americans—I know I disagree with the
S5 E18 | Living as a Person in a Technological World with Andy Crouch
How do we reclaim personhood and relationships in a technological world? Andy Crouch, author of The Life We’re Looking For, talks with me about technology
Trapped by “Able”
“Human beings need to be rescued from seeing themselves as fundamentally ‘able.’” “It is the experience of one’s self as ‘able’ in comparison to others
A Prayer for Healing
“I believe. Help my unbelief.” “Lord, save us!” “My little daughter is dying. Please come and put your hands on her so that she might
Talking About To Be Made Well on Podcasts
So grateful for the insightful, thoughtful podcast hosts who have interviewed me about To Be Made Well! The Lucky Few: What a wonderful conversation about
Life Is Story Review of To Be Made Well
I’m so grateful for this recent review on Life Is Story of To Be Made Well: “To Be Made Well is reflective, personal story of
