Gracious God, satisfy me with the nourishment of good food and meaningful words to occupy the empty, waiting spaces of body and soul. May my full mouth and satiated body be the embodied expression of my thanks. My spoon and plate and bowl and cup overflow with Your goodness. I sense You at work in the sweet and spice, the…
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Every two years, the Writing Department at my university chooses a campus book which all freshman are required to read in their first year. We invite the author of the book to visit to speak to students about their work, and last week, author and poet Jimmy Santiago Baca, spoke to us about his life and writing. I’ve read Baca’s…
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This fall, I accidentally began working full time as a tutor/professor/writer. Because my work is stitched together from disparate pieces, the hours added up to more than I anticipated. It’s good work, and each element works synergistically with the others. I’m lucky in this way–every hour I spend writing improves my teaching, and my hours spent in the classroom improve…
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When we moved into our home six years ago, the oak floorboards in the kitchen and family room needed refinishing after accumulating the scars and scratches of two decades of family life. The wood floor was a testament to all the life that took place under this roof: the deep grooves from shifting furniture, the thick scratches from scrambling puppy…
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While waiting to board a flight to Nashville yesterday, a father sat across from me speaking to his son via FaceTime. He called his son by name, asked simple questions about his boy’s day, and remarked on an upcoming soccer game. I guessed that the boy, Wyatt, was young, which his father confirmed when he congratulated his son on a…
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