Welcomed at the Table

As I begin the week of this Thanksgiving holiday, I am filled with positive childhood memories of great family time, while also being stirred about what this holiday can mean to others different than me and those who do not feel included, valued, or seen with these celebrations.Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday as I am filled with memories as a child, growing up driving down to my Grandma Hartman’s farm down in Southern Illinois. The day car trip was well worth the 4…

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My Neighborhood

During this past year of covid-19, our concept of who our neighbor is has undergone some interesting challenges. For some, it may seem like they have no neighbors at all. For individuals and families who have needed to be strictly sheltering in place, they may not have seen their neighbors in ages. Whether living in a large urban apartment building, a private home, or a care facility, access to the person next door has been severely restricted.At the same time, however, the concept…

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