Writers will often say that we write our way into our stories. Or that, no matter the plan or outline, our stories or arguments unfold in the writing. That is definitely true for me. In the talk I gave in June entitled, “How Will Grandma Find Us?” I wrote myself into several new insights that…
I don’t need seasons. Really, I don’t. If it were up to me, I would wake up every day to 85 degree non-humid sunny weather. Just drop me in the foothills of southern California. Many of you know that I grew up in Michigan. I’ve experienced season – Fall was full of apple picking, falling…
It’s been a little more than eight years. And I forget. I actually forgot after the first year. And the second. I always forget because I don’t want to remember. A little more than eight years ago, we were excited about a pregnancy. Our overall thought was: “Look how great this little one is; let’s…
I think they call it an emergency plan. When I emerged from a particularly long and challenging bout with depression, and had the clarity of mind to get my life together, I read about putting together an emergency plan. The emergency plan required talking to my friends about what to do when I feel desperately…
How does it feel to be a problem? W. E. B. DuBois posed this question in the essay “Our Spiritual Strivings” in The Souls of Black Folk. DuBois was referring to the ways in which African Americans were understood by white American society in the early twentieth century. This quote came to mind last week…
I learned from the best. You’ll hear me say that a lot. I’ve been parented well, taught well, mentored well. The late Sallie McFague helped me to fall in love with theology as a field of study. One way she did this was by showing relevance and genuine excitement for every theologian she taught. She…
When I was in high school, I competed in Bach and Sonata piano competitions that took place at the local university. In those days, I practiced piano after school for almost 2 hours a day. I put that time in and memorized the pieces, learned the ways to stretch my hands to cover more than…
Earlier this Spring, a professional colleague reached out to me to ask: “How did you do it? Like, can you talk to me and tell me how you got to the other side? You know, after your mom passed.” Because her mother had passed months before, and she wanted to know. A couple months…
I had surgery last week. Technically, it was not surgery; it was a “procedure.” But if I’m not conscious, there’s an IV and you’re giving me schedule 2 narcotics for pain, I’m calling it surgery. Just to let you know, I’m fine. But I want to tell you about it because I’m angry. I had…
The best thing about Valentine’s Day is the day after Valentine’s Day. Don’t get me wrong, I love a good greeting card holiday. (Do people even send greeting cards anymore?) And it’s not like one is enough for honoring love. I grew up in the Midwest where we have “Sweetest Day” – literally, a Valentine’s…
Dr. Monica A. Coleman is an award-winning scholar, writer, and minister dedicated to the intersections of faith, social justice, and transformation. Through speaking, consulting, and writing, she empowers individuals and organizations to navigate change with purpose and integrity.
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