Designed by Men

40 Essays in around 100 Words

The first thing to tell me that a bathroom has been designed by a man? No hooks. Because men have pockets, not purses. Men do not have to wear dupattas to maintain their honor. In case you don't live in the subcontinent, a dupatta is approximately 6 feet of fabric that we drape over our bodies in various ways here in Pakistan. So, today, as I carefully balanced my dupatta on a door handle, I wondered how many things, theoretical and practical, are overlooked because men are in charge. How many Bible stories could be read differently? How many spiritual disciplines would be tweaked if they were simply designed by women? Or even just had women as a part of the conversation.

The Tree in the Middle of the Garden

40 Essays in Around 100 words #37

In the garden of Eden there are two trees in the middle of the garden–one of life and one of knowledge. One brought the curse of pain and death into the world. At the end of time, there will be one tree in the heavenly garden–a tree with 12 kinds of fruit, a tree whose leaves provide healing to all the people of the earth. This week we celebrate Jesus who hung on a cursed tree in the middle of 3 men being put to death. So maybe along with being the way, truth, life, and resurrection, Jesus is also the Tree of Life?

This is our "traditional" Easter tree.

Your Body is Good

40 Essays in around 100 words #36

Your body is good. Remember my friend who was learning to ride a bicycle? She did it! She can now ride a bike. No longer will she feel intimidated by activities that are “just like riding a bike.” It’s a new era. She told me she is starting to understand why I love cycling. You feel free and capable and strong. In a society that is often telling women about how their bodies should be, it’s powerful to feel good in the body you have. Let us remember that God looks on our bodies with love and we can rest in that loving gaze.

Shout out to the new streetlamp that made this photo possible