Those concerned about current threats to democracy and religious freedom in America need to express more joy and less oy, Rachel Laser told the 2026 Summit for Religious Freedom. Laser leads Americans United for Separation of Church and State, which…
Upside Down Advent: Joy versus sorrow
Fair warning up front: I’m going to mess with one of your favorite hymns today. Be prepared. But first, a story. As I was writing this lesson, I got a message from a friend whose beloved cat died Thursday. We…
The liberating potential of queer joy
In the midst of the past three weeks, I’ve had a hard time finding reason for celebration and optimism. The Grammys changed that. Fall semester 2023, I taught a study abroad program in London. Upon learning about my iPhone’s music…
AND Christians
We need people who can hold two very different polarities simultaneously right now. A deep abiding joy-peace-shalom AND a radical commitment to living love, pursuing justice and participating with God’s reconciliation of all, right there in the chaos and brokenness….
Circles of joy
There’s always a story behind designing a holiday card. For me, it’s a spiritual experience in itself, and I anticipate learning about Christmas and the beauty of the season with a fresh vision from God. Looking back, every year I’ve…
The politics of joy
While having lunch at a restaurant the other day, I overheard a college-age server behind the counter telling co-workers she wished her friends wouldn’t get angry every time politics comes up. “Why can’t people just be positive for a change?”…
The grace of joy — and the sneerers
One of the astonishing differences in the new Kamala Harris-led change in the political landscape today is the unmistakable note of joy in her campaign and in her followers and, in contra-distinction, the way her political opponents are sneering at…
Hopeful positivity, the most powerful countercultural revolution a person can wage
During the pandemic, actor John Krasinski created a YouTube series titled “Some Good News.” From his living room, the actor famous for his role on The Office shared uplifting stories showcasing humanity’s good side. Unfortunately, once life got back to…
The messiness of Christmas
Often, Christmas is a time of making sure everything is just right. We sing of joy coming to the world, we read poetry of how stockings are hung by the chimney with care, and we mail Christmas cards imprinted with…
My last visit to a Southern Baptist church
My first visit to a Southern Baptist church occurred in 1971, when I was 15 years old. My family had just moved from Alamogordo, N.M., to my parent’s hometown of Muskogee, Okla. On my first Sunday in town, my aunt,…
Celebrating Christmas with extravagant joy
A few years back, Catherine bought me a T-shirt that says, “In a world of Grinches, be a Griswold!” I love Christmas. I am a Griswold. I go all out with decorations, both outside and inside. I just put up…
Of drag shows and the scandal of Christmas
I enjoy drag shows, and I love drag queens, because they are all oh so much fun. Oh, and also, because of Jesus. If Christmas means anything, it means God so loves the queer community that Jesus is born unto…