My Favorite Assignment: A Wondering Essay
For the final assignment for my advanced writers at Penn State–after moving through signature stories, controversy and persuasion, opinion pieces, and professional materials for job applications, students attempt the classic humanities essay of writing to sift or understand what they think about some curious thing. It’s a wondering essay. It’s an essay rooted in fascination […]
Fallen and Beautiful
I love the day before the leaf blowers come, before the families with their rakes assemble, and before the autumn wind swirls and winter snow falls. On this day, the tree drops her leaves, and we see how beautiful they remain, even fallen. In high places or low places, we still reflect beauty. And sometimes, […]
Make Yourself a Teacher
I show my students the research regarding the importance of teaching information in order to retain that knowledge. In fact, if you study with the mindset that you’ll teach the data later–to a friend or a parent for example–your brain employs a powerful strategy to remember the facts. It remembers key points. It synthesizes data. […]
Unexpected Snow
Today, fluffy white globs fell upon our neighborhood. Snow! We haven’t even raked our yard from falling autumn leaves, and the snow dared to come unannounced. It’s beautiful and astonishing, and I realize how much unexpected things for which I’m not prepared often usher in beauty and the kind of pause I need for worship. […]
After the Evaluation
I love the moment when a student wants to improve an essay after the grade comes in—not for a higher grade or for any other reason than the satisfaction of working on a piece of writing they love. Twice it happens like this: a student comes in to talk about changing this or that, improving […]
Write While the Pasta Cooks
Today I had a great conversation with a younger writer who wants to finish a manuscript while also maintaining a full-time job and raising a family with young children. We laugh about writing in the nooks and crannies of the day like while the pasta cooks on the stove. I think about writing in between […]
Above Every Delay
I receive an alert that thunderstorms will most likely delay my trip home tomorrow. I apply the family motto that “every delay is God’s way” so I can begin to turn my dread to joy. Who wants another hotel, another long wait at the airport, and the fuss? Will I cancel class on Monday? What […]
Beginning with Joy
I’m traveling and speaking again this weekend, and this morning, I learned to ask this question: What truly brings me joy? How can I do that thing here? As I walk with God today, I realize how much bringing others joy brings me joy. I think about all the things I could do in this […]
God is a Good Teacher
It’s so true what God says in Psalm 32:8: I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. How do I know? Because after all this time, I’ve truly learned how to do the things God has called me to do. […]
A Different Moment
I’ve been talking to my older daughter about how to worship God in any situation. We talk about marveling over something that brings you to a place of awe over God’s design. We talk about actively looking for God’s provision at all times because it’s His nature to provide; He’s forever providing and sustaining. We finally […]