New England Perspectives
A regularly updated collection of articles written by New England leaders and thinkers. Looking for news articles? Click here.
Stand Firm
I don’t know if you’ve heard the adage “don’t just stand there, do something,” but I’ve sometimes wondered if our culture could ever shed the prevalence of these words. I think there’s a consensus in our fast-paced world that says it’s almost always better to be “doing”—working, planning, moving forward (even if it’s in the wrong direction) as long as we’re doing something.
Powered by Christ
This past June, I went on an e-bike tour with my husband and his family in Vermont. It had been years since I’d ridden a bike, but I was reassured that these battery-powered bikes were equipped with speed options and gears that would help us through our four-hour trek.
The Desire Path
The woods near my parent’s house used to be just a forest, an undisturbed wilderness. There was no way through, until my family and neighbors created a “desire path,” a simple course that eventually became something distinct and walkable, the chosen route. Years later, our local land trust would put up trail markers, signs, and maps, officially deeming it a trail, and a beloved one at that.
Spring Cleaning
Invasion. It was what described the state of our apartment a few weeks ago. Moths were slowly overtaking our living space until we finally found the source of the problem—a bag of forgotten dates in the corner of our kitchen. Let’s just say the bag was moving.
Freedom from Shame
I recently started a new Bible study that encouraged me to write out a “mind map” of my thoughts during the course of a day. After some reflection, I was surprised to discover what was at the root: Shame.
Knowing Our Creator
One day, our friends graciously treated me and my husband to dinner at a hotel restaurant where one of them works as a sous-chef. As I studied the menu, I found myself feeling intimidated by the cuisine and the use of French words. I nervously joked that I hoped we were “worthy” of the food we were about to eat, but our friend was understanding and patient as he answered our questions.
Inviting Jesus
A few years ago, a popular YouTube channel made a series of videos which highlighted the struggles of poverty among the elderly community in South Korea. The host of the show noted that it had been hard to find people to talk to on camera as many feared “losing face,” worried of what their family and friends would think of them following the interview.