Every college student has worked as a barista. At least, it seems that way. What better place to work if you need caffeine and a place to study? It’s all right there. I was newly married with one more semester of grad school when I found myself joining ranks with all those caffeine-addicted students as […]
Life is ___ with Judah Smith
Judah Smith speaks with a slight drawl and a charismatic rhythm that draws listeners in. The first thing he tells me, as he sits down for our interview, is that he’s addicted to hand sanitizer. He produces a bottle of Purell from his vest pock and squeezes a generous amount into his hands. I ask […]
It’s ok to fail at being Christian
“Are you a Christian?”, asked the woman as she scrubbed and trimmed and polished the impurities from my nails. Our conversation had suddenly shifted from friendly formalities, of where I lived and what I did, to something of deeper significance. I immediately questioned just how deep I should let the conversation get (granted it was still […]
For all the Christian introverts out there
I don’t make friends very easily. In fact, it can take quite a while for me to feel connected to someone. I don’t mind the quiet and being by myself; sometimes I prefer it to the alternative. I enjoy just being in other people’s presence without feeling the need to make small talk. The list […]
Community: how do we do it?
They committed themselves to the teaching of the apostles, the life together, the common meal, and the prayers. (Acts 2:42, The Message) Community. Everybody’s talking about it, the new Christian buzzword. We all agree community is vital to our faith, and that we have been called to it. In Acts we read about the first […]
What a simple conversation means
“Thank you for talking to me!” His words were surprising, direct, and intentional. Yet they were woven warm with all of the enchantment and depth that makes a human being unlike anything else in all of existence. His words were heavy and laboured, nearly lost in his thick Hispanic accent. His smile lit a face […]
Ask Amanda: who are you again?
What is the best strategy for continuing a conversation when the other person clearly knows who you are but you can’t remember anything about this person — or why you should know him or her — for the life of you? Lydia (20, Waterloo, ON) Dear Lydia, One time I walked into a TV store […]
Nobody likes small talk
In the past I was a part of a leadership team for my church’s young adults group. As leaders, part of our role was to welcome newcomers. We greeted them at the door and got them connected. I loved the opportunity, but often times I’d leave in an anxious whirlwind, not sure of who I […]