RECENT POSTS
The Dispatch | Finding the Good Life in an Age of Designer Babies and High Achievers
When our daughter Penny was born, I was a student at Princeton Seminary. I stumbled through the basic Greek of the New Testament and enjoyed
From Valentine’s Day Hater to Grateful Parent: Finding Love in Everyday Moments
I used to be a Valentine’s Day hater. Other than our first year of dating (which is to say, many decades ago), Peter and I
Thriving in Marriage as Disability Parents with Todd and Kristin Evans
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST Ep 13 — There’s a myth out there that raising a child with disabilities will doom a marriage. But the data
How to Help Your Child Thrive During School Transitions: Lessons on Inclusion and Belonging from Special Education Success
When Penny was transitioning from elementary school to middle school, the school invited her to come in before the year started so she could walk
Bad Bunny, Taylor Swift, and the Power of Entertainment as Art: Finding Joy and Meaning in Shared Experiences
The halftime show was both art and entertainment, and that’s the best kind of both. I am not a fan of Bad Bunny. (I’m also
How The Pitt Gets Disability Right: Realistic Representation in TV Healthcare
I’ve been noticing how The Pitt portrays people with disabilities. As with most everything else, they do a good job. First, there are the disabled
The Pizza Order: A Story of Disability and Belonging at Church, at School, and Beyond
I recently flew to Chicago to the Covenant Church’s Midwinter Conference. I spoke from Luke 14 about Reimagining Church Life with Disability. I’ve now written or
When Special Education Works with Adrian Wood
TAKE THE NEXT STEP PODCAST Ep 12 — What if inclusion in schools didn’t have to be a constant fight? Adrian Wood, PhD, shares what actually
January 2026 • Things Worth Your Time
Books, essays, podcast episodes, and more that I think are worth your time, plus recent cultural news that I’m paying attention to in the month
You Know You Belong When… How Churches Can Create Real Community for Families with Disabilities
Belonging is a bit of a buzzword, but I’m inclined to keep it in the lexicon because it speaks to such a core human need. We
Culture Care, not Culture War with Makoto Fujimura
REIMAGINING THE GOOD LIFE PODCAST S9 E9—Our culture feels like a battlefield, but attitudes and actions change when we change metaphors and see it as
The One Question I Wish Every Doctor Would Ask
Every year, Penny and I visit the Down Syndrome Clinic at Mass General Hospital. (Here’s a behind-the-scenes look(!) at one of our recent visits to the
Reviewing the Year
In 2020, Peter happened upon a guide that we’ve found helpful in reviewing the year. (We’ve lost the source for this, I’m sorry to say!
Mamma Mia on Broadway
Penny and her friend Rachel have had a regular Saturday night “watch party” since they were both stuck at home during Covid. There’s a good
When the New Year Hits Harder Than Expected
This New Year took me by surprise. I climbed in bed with a head cold the night of December 31 (long before midnight). I hadn’t
How the Civil Rights Generation Can Lead Us Out of the Culture War with Justin Giboney
REIMAGINING THE GOOD LIFE PODCAST S9 E8 — We’re living through a season of deep division, political unrest, and global instability. Justin Giboney, political strategist and
The Birthday Emotions I Didn’t Expect
I didn’t expect turning the corner from 19 to 20 to feel like such a big deal. Our daughter Penny came into this world two
Using Your Breath to Interrupt Anxiety
When anxiety creeps in, our breath often carries the story we’re telling ourselves. In my conversation with Justin Whitmel Earley, he points out that we
