When I finally open my eyes on Monday mornings, I often hope that I’m somehow mistaken— that I’ve actually woken up on a Sunday. And then, after daydreaming for entirely too long, I stand up, drop a bagel in the toaster and spend time with my wife, who… Read More

Like any young girl, I always imagined growing up and having a perfect little family: three kids, a house, some grass and, you know, a husband. In a million years, I never thought I’d be living as a single parent. See, it didn’t start off that way. I… Read More

What happened to her? I can hardly recognize her anymore. Her sweet, pure, childlike beauty has evolved into a done-up mannequin.These were my thoughts as I watched one of my favorite TV shows, which is notorious for recognizing contestants for their talent and not for their looks. Revolutionary, right? But… Read More

I so badly want to stack up in life. I want to grow into a flawless writer, a perfect husband and a dependable friend. But when I consider these desires, I uncover a much deeper truth: I fear inadequacy. I worry about not stacking up, about developing into… Read More

I’ve never felt more abandoned by God than when I moved into the city. Throughout my life, I have experienced my fair share of transitions: I lived in five different places before my 10th birthday, spent my teenage years in Southeast Georgia and, after graduating college, lived in Wisconsin,… Read More

For the third Monday in a row, I woke up feeling anxious. While seeking a job that would bring me closer to my family—and ultimately, my future wife—I felt impatient. I had grown tired of waiting for God to provide a solution and, as a result, began to doubt… Read More

The sun was out when I strapped my 3-year-old nephew into the car. We were on our way to the museum, and he was excited to ride the choo-choo train on the museum grounds. But when we pulled into the parking lot, we began to feel a slight drizzle. Shortly… Read More

When you fear the future, the struggle often feels all-consuming. “What ifs” seem to run wild in your mind. You strive to focus on the task at hand—but without fail, you surrender to a fear that feels insurmountable. What does tomorrow hold? What if the future feels hopeless?… Read More

A few weeks ago, I found myself staring aimlessly into the distance, feeling dazed as I tried to control my out-of-control thoughts. With my hands neatly folded behind my head, I wrestled with feelings of rejection and abandonment. I longed to feel accepted and affirmed, though in this place,… Read More

By nature, I am a competitive person. Though I rarely play sports as passionately as I once did, my “combative side” kicks in during subtle competitions: playing board games, comparing hometowns, watching professional sports. But at times, these subtle competitions can take me down a much darker path, turning… Read More