Laura’s Blog
Common Obstacles to Belonging
"A history of exclusion or inhospitable attitudes can have a wounding effect on people with developmental disabilities and their families."[1]Erik Carter A few weeks ago I interviewed a 24-year old young woman, who we will call Julie. She has lived with lupus for the...
Building Inclusion into the Mission of the Church
"Fully welcoming people with disabilities is fundamental to following Jesus."[1]Bethany McKinney Fox, pastor of Beloved Everybody Church When you think of sharing the gospel and making disciples of all, do you think of people with disabilities? The effects of...
Who are the Ones the World Leaves Behind?
The poem you read last week invites you to ponder the "ones the world leaves behind." It is true that many people could be called "the stranger" until they are brought into community. Many are also marginalized and excluded for being part of minority groups. For the...
The Body Needs More
Remember the call—Go,make disciplesof all. Go means gather,see who existsbeyond the walloutside:the stranger,the marginalized,stigmatized,ones the worldleaves behind. Please don't waitfor us to arrive.We might be late;We may be stuck,feeling forlornor...
On the Edge of the Future
I didn’t want to listen to the word God spoke to my heart. Future. That word scared me. The future has always carried two scenarios in my mind: 1) the time when my parents are no longer here; 2) the time when my marriage dream comes to fruition. One is full of fear....
On Provision in the Present
I never thought I’d say I survived a tornado. But in early August, that’s exactly what happened. A tornado blew right over our house at 3:00 in the morning. There was no time to prepare, no time to move to a “safer” spot. The power went out, my breathing machine quit,...
Getting Through the Difficult Days
Three and a half weeks ago I officially started self-quarantine with my parents. I have felt a wave of different emotions, sometimes all in the same day. Anxious, worried about the ones I love and wanting to check on them. Angry that this kind of virus exists and is...
A Prayer for the Difficult Days
The status of the world is hard to comprehend, hard to embrace, hard to feel real. But it is real. It's strange, and sadly, the pandemic threat of the COVID-19 coronavirus isn't going anywhere anytime soon. We want to know when this will be over. We ask, in our hearts...
door of Hope
Valley of Achor desert of trouble buried in rubble pull me out pull me up away from the wild well watered away from the war well waged away from the wind protected and planted stable and strong no longer lost tossed blown or thrown rooted and ready secure and steady...
the dream door
the dream door opened quickly something new to explore the heart soared even in sorrow sadness so deep one could know one could find joy to seep through the mind the pain, the fear and then it shut
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