Wednesday, December 16, 2020
I raced home to avoid being drenched by an oncoming rainstorm. On the way, I ran through some mud that ended up embedded in my wheelchair tires. I wasn’t strong enough to clean it out of the treads of my tires or the pile of the carpet…..(View this reading and...
Tuesday, December 15, 2020
Even though I loved decorating my face with makeup as a small girl, my little arm wasn’t steady enough for details. Lipstick and blush smeared, and my eyeshadow dusted everything. Childish joy eventually became teenage and young adult frustration. Through painting and...
Monday, December 14, 2020
In my small town, there are no sidewalks on most of the main streets. I recently had a near-death experience while attempting to cross a busy intersection with no crosswalk or stoplight. I began to go forward when there seemed to be a break in the traffic. Suddenly a...
Sunday, December 13, 2020
As I was getting a sponge from under the kitchen sink to clean my painting pallet, the wheelchair actuator stopped working. That meant that my chair would no longer rise up or down. I was stuck. Mom was out, and I was home alone. There was nothing to do...
Saturday, December 12, 2020
A friend told me about a recent conversation with her son: “Mom, how come Carrie doesn’t have to do the dishes, and I do?” My friend answered, “Because Carrie is five, and you are eight. She’s beginning to have her household tasks. When she sees you doing your chores,...
Friday, December 11, 2020
When my sister Becca was thirteen, she was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, which can cause chronic gastrointestinal issues. Despite her limitations and chronic physical pain, she graduated from college and majored in music. Becca went on to adopt six very active and...
Thursday, December 10, 2020
From the Archives: May 2, 1956I was in New York City for a Lenten writing assignment. One day, after lunch, I went for a long walk in Central Park. At length, I rested on a bench and shared my lunch with some pigeons. All aroun….(View this reading and more...
Wednesday, December 9, 2020
The psalmist is helpless, weak, possessed of a soul that “is weary with sorrow.” Nonetheless, the psalmist wants to remain focused on God’s decrees. Succumbing to fear or insecurity or hostility or meanness is as dangerous as it ever was—more dangerous even than...
Tuesday, December 8, 2020
Once, I was eating quietly at a favorite café in town, enjoying some alone time. As I prepared to leave, I asked a waitress to assist me. Despite her best efforts and my repeated attempts to explain how to help me, we did not have a good interaction. Flustered, I...
