Religion, Politics and Current Events

Category

Shame

The summer of 1981 was a time I came face-to-face with my own proclivity to do a variety of shameful and youthful things. One day in August, I had an experience where I believe the Holy Spirit overcame me with a deep sense of conviction of my sinfulness and need for Jesus, and I consider that moment forward the beginning of my desire for a new life, in God. As I went on into adulthood, there are some times when...

Name-Calling, and Naming Names

Moms tend to keep lists, of many things. I’ve had a long list of names–112 to be precise–printed out and moved from surface to surface in my office for a couple months now. This list was compiled by a mother, who asked for other moms in our group to add names and a few details to go along with the name, for the purpose of prayer. I suppose many would dis, dismiss and name-call such women as Karens. Whatever that...

Standing Up For KAREN

I was in 7th grade, and a mousy white girl. I was in some type of elective where me and six other girls, seven in total, were sent out of a classroom into a communal area to work on/practice some type of play we were to create. Our group consisted of two black girls and five white girls. Our names/demographics in alphabetical order were: Ann (white)Bonita (black)Eileen (white)Jenny (white)Rosie (white)Sandy (black)Valerie (white) Not that this matters, per se. But these...

Becoming Karen

I’ve known a lot of Karens in my lifetime. Karens come in all different sizes, shapes and personas. Most, if not all, of the Karens I have known are generally good, decent, caring people. I always think that the meaning and origin of a name is interesting and important. While these days internet searches sometimes bring up conflicting information about a name’s meaning/origin, the three sources below are fairly consistent that the name Karen is Danish/Greek, meaning “pure, clear, child...