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Are there memories whose goodness has surprised you? Though not a poet, I took a workshop earlier this year which involved writing a poem that explored the divine through joy. Inspired by the vividness of Li-Young Lee’s sense-awakening poem “From Blossoms”, I tried writing about a kind of remembering moment that has taken me by surprise,... Continue Reading →
How do you picture the face of God? Does She smile with you? Does He gaze down with a stern expression? Are Their eyes totally unreadable? When a writing workshop asked me to write something that approached God from an unexpected angle, I began thinking through the language of Psalm 139, which seems to suggest... Continue Reading →
What do you hold onto? Where do you land when you fall? I’ve noticed more and more how images of God’s presence that once spoke to me will empty out over time. New ways of thinking and feeling take their place. Even the most meaningful language can wear out with use, after all, and we... Continue Reading →
What happens inside as you mourn? Where does mourning take you? I’m guessing a lot of us have much, much more familiarity with mourning since 2020. We’ve lost things. We’ve lost people. As I, myself, have mourned, I’ve felt longing winding itself through that sense of loss. I long for people, I long for ways... Continue Reading →
Do you enjoy trying new things? I do, and I don’t. I do enjoy the mix of experiences, personalities, and perspectives that new things can bring. I enjoy learning and surprises. I enjoy finding unexpected beauty and encountering the world in new ways. Sometimes, though, I don’t enjoy the vulnerability of immersing myself in things... Continue Reading →
What do you do that keeps you sane? I’m guessing that a lot of us have things we do that would appear impractical and odd to anyone who observed us doing them (if we actually let anyone observe us doing them). They’d count as silliness were it not for one factor: the good they do... Continue Reading →
Callie J. Smith 