"Seems strange to see the daffodils and hyacinths blooming," I told my cousin last evening. "Everything is so normal outside. It's just inside where everything is crazy." Lorelle and I were on a walk together, which is still legal in our part of Pennsylvania. We kept a safe distance. (Being a stoic Mennonite makes some things easy.) We commiserated about libraries being shut down. Then Lorelle told me how her plans to volunteer overseas hadn't worked out. "Then the covonavirus … [Read more...] about A Springtime Like No Other Springtimes
Community
Penny Letter From a Lockdown Zone
"A natural disaster would be interesting to see," I once told some family members. "Not people dying or anything like that. I just think it would be fascinating to witness a devastating natural event of some kind. Don't you think so?" "No!" My family members were aghast. "That's crazy! Why would you want to see something like that?" "Oh." Apparently, not everyone daydreams about riding a boat down the street, or standing in a doorway during an earthquake and seeing if that really is … [Read more...] about Penny Letter From a Lockdown Zone
Police Bullhorns at 3:30 a.m. and Coronavirus Panic
This morning I awoke to the sound of a police bullhorn blaring over the neighborhood. "Come downstairs, come out the front door, keep your hands up where I can see them!", boomed the distant echoing voice, interspersed with short blasts of a police siren. Shaking off deep sleep, I crawled out of bed and shoved my glasses on. Down the hall, I could hear my parents stirring. "They've set up roadblocks," said my mom, coming into my room. "I think they're looking for someone!" "Which … [Read more...] about Police Bullhorns at 3:30 a.m. and Coronavirus Panic
Valentine’s Day Banquet and an Ordination
"What do you all think about doing a Valentine's meal for the guys?" my friend Melissa messaged me and several others last month. "It would be fun to plan but it would take several brains to pull it off." "This sounds exciting! Let's do it!" messaged Susanna. A Valentine's party? At first I was reluctant— we are a singles group after all. This could be awkward. But then I remembered it's Leap Year! More seriously— as another girl pointed out— "Last year, the guys had a Valentine's … [Read more...] about Valentine’s Day Banquet and an Ordination
Teaching Zacchaeus, Reading Tactics, and Reflections
"Do you love money?" Jasper asked me as I tucked a dollar bill into my bag— the same dollar he had asked me for a few seconds earlier. Children's questions can put you in an awkward spot. This happened just last Thursday. I was substituting for another teacher in a kids' Bible club that I used to help with weekly. When I was a regular volunteer, I would sometimes teach Bible stories and object lessons, or keep things organized with the children. Last year, I decided it was time to move … [Read more...] about Teaching Zacchaeus, Reading Tactics, and Reflections