I smiled hopefully at the doctor as he felt my right knee for structural damage. “You’ll be fine,” he said, to my relief. “Nothing that seems beyond repair. Just skip soccer practice next week.” A few days later, I began to warm up for my next match. But as soon… Read More

Have you ever endured “one of those weeks”? The type of week when your heater breaks, your fridge goes crazy, you have a big fight with a close friend, an electric panel in your house is deemed a hazard, UPS loses your package and your newborn baby won’t… Read More

My wife and I are currently reading through J.R.R. Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings.” As we’ve journeyed alongside Frodo, Sam, Pippin and Merry, an epiphany has been lingering in the back of my head: I’m just like a Hobbit. I resist change and hope desperately that things in my life… Read More

I grew up imprisoned by low self-esteem; I hated myself so much I often felt suicidal. By nature, I am anxious, introverted and critical (especially toward myself). On top of these tendencies, I spent years living in a broken home with a mentally ill mom and a great deal… Read More

Every cloud has a silver lining, they say. If you look hard enough—and think positive thoughts—you’re bound to uncover happiness in the midst of despair. But what happens when your cloud looks perpetually gray? When you’re desperately searching for a healthy outlook, but only feel downtrodden and defeated?… Read More

What has tested your faith? Joblessness? Loss of a loved one? A dream that never materialized? An intellectual question you couldn’t resolve? These are situations that push us to re-evaluate our beliefs and make us wonder if we can really trust God. Sometimes they make us want to throw… Read More

I just can’t catch a break! Have you ever experienced a season when you’ve been hit with hard circumstance after hard circumstance? Just when life couldn’t get any worse… WHAM…you get slammed with another challenging situation. You feel as if everything has come crashing down all at once. In… Read More

Six months ago, my roommate began the frightening journey of a new job search. Her company announced their departure from New York City; they were purchased by a larger company and planned to relocate to Miami. This was quite a shock to many of her New York City-based coworkers,… Read More

I am my own worst critic. Any mistake, significant or not, triggers a slew of self-deprecating murmurs and thoughts. Even when said in humor, every word is meant—every word is felt. I then arrive (all too easily) at this awful, unbiblical conclusion: “I am neither admirable nor likable. How… Read More

As you make your way down a crowded city street, you notice a man sitting quietly between two storefronts. A small cardboard sign tells a fraction of his story: “Homeless. Need food. Please help.” You wonder how he ended up on the street. You wonder if a contribution of… Read More