Category Hope
Living as Those Prepared to Die
Since Mom’s death, there’s a comment I’ve heard folks say often that makes me a bit queasy. It goes like this, “If Carol Masters can die of cancer, that means anyone can die of cancer.” On the one hand, I get what folks mean by that, since she did have cancer for 30 years, and was […]
Elevator Lights
A reflection about being with one of my mentors as she died in 2008. Written in 2012 for Purpose Magazine’s January 2013 Epiphany publication. I did not even plan to visit her that evening. I pressed the down button on the elevator, yet when I arrived on the first floor, something in my gut told […]
Born on Inauguration Day
This article was published by Marketplace in January 2013 in celebration of January 20th Inauguration Day birthdays. As you’ll read in the article, my Mama died on January 13, ergo why I’m behind on my blog and life in general. She gave me life on January 20, 1981 and we have much work to continue […]
All is not calm; all is not bright
Thanks to Christian Century for publishing this piece about the violence many Chicago teens know all too well.
Symbols of the Season
While cleaning my condo a few days ago, I accidentally vacuumed up baby Jesus from one of the nativity scenes and had to retrieve him from the almighty Dyson. I dusted him off and glued his sweet lil head back in the manger. He isn’t really even supposed to be there yet since it’s still […]
Bringing A-Game to the B-Team
For many of us, doing our best and striving for an A, even the coveted A+, is typically all the motivation needed for success. Getting acknowledged feels good and doing our best is satisfying. Earning an A is worth celebrating. That is of course when it comes to school and other such performance evaluations. Not […]
Hey, Girl! Can I Buy You a Mammogram?
The Breast Health Center waiting room was just as expected with outdated magazines about Easter décor, the June 18th edition of People, and two year old ideas for how to renovate your kitchen. I looked around at the other women and realized we all spanned about forty years in age. Some looked more anxious than […]
My So-Called Exceptional Life
Yesterday I listened as a respected colleague stated, “It’s not my fault people don’t have full-time jobs. It’s not my fault they don’t have an education. It’s not my fault they can’t pay for health insurance. It’s not my fault they can’t pay rent. Basically it’s not my fault that they don’t work as hard […]
Wisdom of the Waves
He that will learn to pray, let him go to sea.~George Herbert Prior to leaving on a jet plane to return to Chicago , I sought sanctuary in the sand to pray and listen to the ocean. As I gathered shells filled with sand and stories, I listened to the wisdom of the water. I […]
Diary of a Death Diva
Over the weekend, a pastor whom I don’t know contacted me asking for pediatric funeral liturgy since he, fortunately, had not officiated a child’s funeral before. He said a mutual colleague told him they used some of my liturgy for an infant funeral last year, and suggested he contact me for resources. While reading his […]
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