Wednesday, October 23, 2019 | Reflections
I occasionally struggle with feeling inferior—like I do not belong in certain places because I do not have the right credentials or the right last name. When I first started leading music and singing around the Episcopal Church, I felt intimidated because I am not...
Tuesday, October 22, 2019 | Reflections
I pride myself on being able to pack for a ten-day trip abroad in one carry-on. However, this kind of packing magic makes my carry-on and backpack very heavy. I thank God for people who help me put my carry-on in the overhead bin. I’m not sure if they do ….(View...
Monday, October 21, 2019 | Reflections
I always wonder about the adages that say the company you keep reflects who you are. A saying in Spanish cautions, “Tell me who you hang out with, and I will tell you who you are.” I wonder why the sayings don’t suggest that those of us who consider ourselves to be...
Sunday, October 20, 2019 | Reflections
Ah, the persistent widow…the king was annoyed by her and decided to grant her justice because she was exhausting him. I wonder if God ever feels this way about me. It is comforting that Jesus uses this parable to teach us that we need to pray always and...
Saturday, October 19, 2019 | Reflections
I am always wondering about and questioning the Bible, my faith traditions, and my own beliefs. Many years ago, some priests were talking about a movie in which the filmmakers wondered about the parts of Jesus’ life we don’t have records of. Some of the ideas in the...
Friday, October 18, 2019 | Reflections
I have been known to post provocative items on social media. I try to fight for justice. I speak up when many stay silent. I have been asked to stop, to be quiet, and to delete posts. What people do not see is that before I post on social media, I always try to...
Thursday, October 17, 2019 | Reflections
My mom has a way of building people up. She loves to love and goes out of her way to be thankful and offer specific compliments. She is generous and loves to give people gifts and handwritten notes. People who love to be loved by her always surround Mamí....
Wednesday, October 16, 2019 | Reflections
I take comfort in knowing that all I have to do to ask for prayer is text my family. When I am about to sing or speak, when I have a test or am feeling sick, I ask my family to pray, and I am covered by God’s hands. During most of my life, people in our f….(View...
Tuesday, October 15, 2019 | Reflections
This passage from Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians says that we must strive to excel in our gifts in order to build up the church. All of us have been given spiritual gifts. Growing up in evangelical churches, I saw many members participating actively in worship...
Monday, October 14, 2019 | Reflections
How often do we hear or read that love is blind? Paul’s letter to the Corinthians confirms that love is not blind—love sees everything and loves anyway. I heard a speaker say that we should insert our name where this passage uses the word “love.” Sa….(View this...
Sunday, October 13, 2019 | Reflections
As a digital evangelist, I am often asked how to share the good news of Jesus on social media. I encourage people to share what God has done for them through a picture, a video, or a story. This surprises a lot of people—many of us think sharing daily moments of...
Saturday, October 12, 2019 | Reflections
If I speak Spanish and visit other Spanish-speaking countries but don’t have love, I am a noisy maraca. When we love, things are different. I am not talking about that rose-colored-lenses feeling but rather that every day, honest, messy, and often challenging way of...
Friday, October 11, 2019 | Reflections
I recently posted a question on social media about the need for vergers. Responses to my post reminded me that while I may not understand this liturgical role, others do. Similarly, when some people question why Spanish/bilingual/Latino/Hispanic ministry...
Thursday, October 10, 2019 | Reflections
I was born with a 5 percent chance of survival. Because they could not afford medical care, my parents took me home to die. My dad was working on a thesis about miraculous healing and a verse from James (5:14) came to his heart. My family and a neighbor...
Wednesday, October 9, 2019 | Reflections
When I was a schoolteacher, I asked my students to follow me. Within the first week, my students knew they were to walk in a single file line and be silent. I sometimes walked next to them or behind them or talked with another teacher while they waited for...
