Author Archives: Sarah Young

Abolish Death!

Calls to abolish ICE grew louder this weekend as another protestor lost his life when he interfered with Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers. It is difficult to watch the video footage. We all want to put the bullet back in the gun, the words back in the mouth, the forbidden fruit back on the tree.Continue reading “Abolish Death!”

Not for the Faint of Heart

I teach a children’s Sunday School. It is not for the faint of heart, and not just because you might get hit with a spitball or handed a “cootie.” (“Could you squish this, teacher? I found it on my sister’s head.”) Last semester, we worshiped by singing a song called, “Sing Wherever I Go.” SomeContinue reading “Not for the Faint of Heart”

Loving Leviticus

Leviticus gets the short end of the stick. Pastors rarely exhort congregants to start their Bible reading in Leviticus. Adjectives for the book abound: boring, dense, antiquated, dull.  To most, it is a list of rules for an ancient people who weren’t able to keep them. But David found treasure in the book of Leviticus.Continue reading “Loving Leviticus”

A Holy Calling

6,646 feet above sea level, I saw a flower on Logan’s Pass in Montana. Bees and butterflies took nourishment from it, and so did I, in a way. In a field of wildflowers, this one held my attention and reached above the highest mountains to gather sunlight. It did not cause itself to germinate orContinue reading “A Holy Calling”

Seeking a Bride

A New Year means a new opportunity to read through the Bible. When my husband and I were first married, there was an elderly woman in our church who had read through the Bible over fifty times. As the Pastor encouraged her to share about her Bible reading, I realized that I had never readContinue reading “Seeking a Bride”

Ears You Have Dug For Me

It’s the time of year for sappy sentimentality to croon out of every radio and department store speaker. As soon as I hear anything about Christmas shoes, old lovers in grocery stores, or chestnuts, I wish I could close my ears. Yet I have my own sentimental list of things I do around the ChristmasContinue reading “Ears You Have Dug For Me”

Red Ribbon Eggnog

At my grandparent’s house, Christmas was as elegant as a Harrod’s storefront window. Everyone wore their best clothes. The formal dining room and the family dining room were both completely decked with Christmas china, crystal, napkin rings, Christmas crackers, salt cellars, and silver serving pieces. The tree was a coordinated masterpiece of tasteful holiday cheerContinue reading “Red Ribbon Eggnog”

A New Christmas Tradition

At Christmas time, we do things differently. The house is decorated differently. We eat different foods. We sing different songs. The ho-hum of the rest of the year fades in the twinkle and sparkle of lights, yet we expect our different traditions to remain the same. It wouldn’t be a tradition if it wasn’t theContinue reading “A New Christmas Tradition”

Let’s Try Again

Before the whole fishy incident, God gave Jonah this command: “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil has come up before Me.” Obviously, Jonah did not like this command, and he attempted to flee from the presence of the Lord. (Mistake #1.) You’ve probably read how thatContinue reading “Let’s Try Again”