Hello! My name is Staci. If you don’t know who I am, that’s okay. I’ve been coming to Grace Church with my husband (and now child) since 2008, but honestly I wouldn’t be surprised if you and I haven’t met because I tend to hang around the recesses of the shadows at church unless I’m singing on stage. I’m a bit introverted. What that means is I am most comfortable with and prefer the company of only a few people at a time instead of many. Don’t get me wrong: This doesn’t mean

“This kind does not go out except by prayer and fasting.” (Matthew 17:21) In 1998, on a Wednesday night during the season of Lent, I found myself with a small group of Christians who had gathered to celebrate the Eucharist at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Conway. For several reasons that had nothing to do with Lent, I had eaten almost nothing since the day before. I wasn’t intentionally fasting. My day at Hendrix College had been exceptionally full; I had simply not had a c

“Gain” seems to be the the name of the game in this world. We define our identity and our success by the size of our bank account, the number of social media followers we obtain, the levels of success our children achieve, along with many other similar metrics. Our metrics might differ to an extent, but we all buy into this mentality in some form or fashion. It's reflected in our schedules, our priorities, and our bank account statements. The places we spend our time, our ene

i asked you about blessings, and one would think you might say blessings are when everything’s going your way. basket-woven cornucopias brimming bounty from rich soil; towering stacks of dollars from meaningful toil; just the right number of quiver-full offspring who learn easily, behave, and perform athletically; rosy-glowed cheeks and the fountain of youth; blessed by God for performance—but that’s not truth. you said you were blessed by a disorder with eating that drew you

Imagine the scene: A young girl strikes out on the last pitch of a softball game. She hangs her head and wipes away her tears with her dirty sleeve. It’s obvious she has given her all but has come up short. While the other team celebrates, her dad comes down from the stands and puts his arm around her to console her. Next comes a montage that shows her redoubling her efforts. There she is taking batting practice in the dark; up in the early-dawn hours finishing her chores so