rebelling against low expectations
I watched from the back of the room as people sat, knelt, stood, sang and prayed at all the right times. From my vantage point, it looked like a performance. “These people are so legalistic,” I thought to myself. Suddenly I felt a stab of conviction. I could not see the hearts of these people. How could I tell whether they were just going through the motions or truly worshiping the...
Many consider the holidays to be a time of celebration where people give, receive, and spend time with those they love. However, not everyone has this kind of luxury. Not everyone has a loving family, and others are far away from those they love. Still others have had people pass away or become sick amidst the holidays. And ironically, for some, in this season meant for joy, joy can be hard to...
He crumpled to the dusty road as blow after blow landed on his back and head. Everything went black. Moments later, he felt something warm trickling down his cheek; then heard footsteps shuffling closer to where he lay. An audible gasp, and the shuffling faded off into the distance. Again, all went black. A second time he came to but instead of blows, he felt strong arms lifting him off the...
Can’t we all love the people we see Whether or not they all agree To what is said, or claimed, or cried Why can’t we love the person inside? Today we slam, we shout, we bash, We hurt, we scorn, and then we smash. We treat others like so much dirt And we don’t care what lives we hurt. I may not agree with a movement or claim, But I’ll treat the person behind them the same...
The night of the last presidential election, I made a poor decision. I looked at Twitter. My feed was full of tweets and retweets rejoicing, mourning, celebrating, or decrying the situation as it unfolded, minute by minute. Praise and blame was heaped on both of the major candidates—and on their supporters. My birthday came just a year too late for me to vote in the presidential election. As I...
Nine times out of ten when our friend suffers, we ache to our core. In response to that burden, we search for ways to alleviate their pain, to give them comfort. I faced that kind of scenario recently. My friend, Eliza Downer—a worn-out warrior battling for joy and strength amid the weariness that comes from chronic illness—was about to restart “one hundred days of thankfulness” and...
I am rebelling against low expectations. Breaking down the social “foundations”. Changing adolescent definitions, To be bold and strong and brave. Striving for excellence every day. Setting examples, promoting change. I am learning, I am growing I am reading more and knowing I am more than ever showing. I am seventeen and, yes, it’s scary, But I am a Rebelutionary. My fear has not been...
A few weeks ago, a friend asked me, “What is one major thing you struggle with, that keeps you from striving towards God?” The second I heard it, the answer became clear– fear. We all face fears, fear of the future, failure, rejection, and betrayal. It’s crippling. The fact is, if we aren’t careful, fear will take root in our lives and control all our decisions. It creeps in like a thief seeking...
When you have a four-year old brother, your entertainment options become quite narrow–and very repeated. The chosen show changes every few months, and some picks endure the repeated use better than others. The old Disney classics lie on one end of that spectrum, while most bright, loud, obnoxious toddler shows are banished to the absolute other. Fortunately for me, the current chosen show...
The “gig economy”–a fancy tech term for an work that promotes flexibility–is growing rapidly. Think flexible income, flexible hours, and flexible forms of expression. Some 150 million workers in North America and Western Europe have dropped the “relatively stable confines of organizational life” to become independent contractors, according to a March-April Harvard Business...
rebelling against low expectations
