Leonard Cohen, author of A Broken Hallelujah was Jewish. For a time he also practiced Buddhism. He was not a professing Christian and there is a dark…

How often I have pushed back against this command to give thanks in all things, especially in the middle of great darkness. Perhaps one reason I push back is…

I was asked to teach a workshop on the topic of grief in the context of ONE Annapolis, a women’s regional conference sponsored by our denomination. As I thought about how…

It’s likely that I have never walked where you are walking, but I do know what shattered dreams and broken hearts are all about. My husband Chuck and I experienced…

Even though I’ve faithfully stretched and exercised throughout my adult years, I have stiff muscles. Various stressors, both…

I spent most of my 30-year career working as a carpet stylist for a large fiber producer. I followed color trends, made samples using the fibers we…

Several years ago, my almost 3-year-old granddaughter Emma was napping peacefully when my daughter Mary arrived home…

The church I attend began a small-group discipleship ministry for our women. As part of getting to know each other better, the …

My mood was as gray as the rainy day. I thought I got up on the right side of the bed, but a series of minor frustrations throughout…

My right hand bears several scars, some the result of injuries, others from surgery. They’ve become less visible with time, but…

In an effort to help a struggling friend, we might say something like, “God’s got this. You will be fine. Everything will be ok.” Comforting…

Shadows from the morning sunlight danced across my bedroom ceiling and caught my eye as I awoke, but it was difficult…

II associated the 23rd Psalm with death for most of my life. As a pastor’s daughter, I attended numerous funerals, and…

I hold a tattered index card in my hand and read the words scribbled across it. “You are my beloved daughter, Rosann. With you, I am…

I was slightly peeved the day I walked into the chapel at the retreat center. I came to this place on the mountain for a quiet…

I remember the first time I saw love with my eyes, held it in my arms, heard its cry, and smelled its wonder. It was…

A woman’s voice crackled over the school intercom. “Please send Rosann Strickland to the office for early release.” The words…

I loved connecting with Rosann and am especially touched by her desire for God’s children to recognize and revel…

At first glance, Job seems to be at the center of his own story— a man marked by immense suffering and loss. However, a closer…

Job’s grief is possibly the most devastating in the Bible. His story is heart-wrenching—a man who lost everything. While…