The Woman Who Heard the Light
The year was 1939. The month was September. Only days after World War II broke out. The woman was so moved to tears when she read the headlines of war in the papers. Her first thought was, “Another war?”
Inspiration
A World That Won’t Listen
In a world filled with moral confusion and noise, the book of Isaiah reminds us that God is still speaking—and our greatest need is to listen.
The Continental Divide
I’m in a hotel lobby. It’s breakfast. We are waiting in line for our gruel. Guests congregate around the coffee urn like puppies at the teat until they drain the urn and leave nothing but dregs for us tired, huddled masses.
The Princess and the Pinto Beans; Finding Hope in Aisle Four
I was blue. I had just watched the news. Wars were raging. Bombs were dropping. People dying. All God’s children were bickering over the price of rice in China in the rain.
Words in My Palm; Echoes from Ivy Green
I’ve chased you all over the US. I visited your grave in the Washington National Cathedral, I got chills there, too. I performed in a historic theater where you once lectured. Chills. I drove past the house where you died in Connecticut. Chills.
A True Writer
Dear Young Writers, You know who you are. You’re reading this on your phone, computer, tablet, or maybe a soggy newspaper you found in a gutter.
Quiet Courage in the Story of Moses
Though Moses stands at the center of the Exodus story, the quiet faithfulness of Miriam and Zipporah reminds us that God often advances His plans through people whose brief appearances carry lasting significance.
Dear Sean
“Dear Sean,” the notecard began. The handwriting was very neat. “My name is John. I’m 14 years old… And I know your really busy but my dad committed suicide like yours. Maybe you can tell me what to do or be my friend. Love, John.”
The Tough Girl
A little girl. I see her in hotel lobby. She is maybe 10 years old. She has her luggage with her. Her gait is severely uneven and labored. She is having a difficult time traversing the lobby.
The Wilderness: Not Punishment, But Preparation
Lent is a forty-day wilderness season that echoes the many forty-day periods in Scripture—especially Jesus’ time in the desert—reminding us that fasting and self-denial are not punishment but God’s way of strengthening us and drawing us closer to Him.
No Religion On the Trail… Thank God
The Camino is out there. Still existing. On the other side of the world. I wake up each morning, stumble into my kitchen to make coffee, and I think about how right now, it’s still there.
Stop Trying to Be Enough; You Already Are
What if I told you that you are enough? Moreover, what if you woke up this morning and, for the first time ever, you actually felt like enough. What if you loved yourself? And I mean really loved yourself. Do you love yourself? Let’s find out.
The Birds of the Air
Dear Tara, I heard that your cancer has spread. They tell me you’ll need to undergo some invasive surgeries, not least of which is a mastectomy. They tell me you’re frightened.
The Princess and the Dollar General
Once upon a time, there was a princess who lived in a great big old castle. She was very beautiful, with long, flowy hair, and her teeth were really nice, too. Nice and straight.
Last Night at the Ryman Auditorium
It is the Gatlin Brothers 70th anniversary concert, and every Nashville A-list celebrity you can think of is here. I am supposed to do a song with everyone at the end. Larry Gatlin told me to bring my banjo. But I’m experiencing a bad case of “tiny banjo syndrome” right now. I don’t belong here. I don’t know how to act around famous people.
Mother Mary and the Jaybird
Years ago, I was sitting with my Methodist mother-in-law in the living room. We were replaying old memories like worn out records only weeks before she would pass. Hospice was already in the house.
Be Still and Know That I Am God
How do we navigate in such a complicated, corrupt world? The answer is in Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.”
Sean Dietrich: How to Save This Country
The way to save this country is to eat together. We don’t eat together anymore. We don’t eat supper at the same table. When did that stop?
Acorns, Aggression, and Melanin: Why the Black Squirrels Run Northern Michigan
If NATO ever needs a real-world case study in territorial conflict, dominance hierarchies, and cold-weather logistics, they can skip the war colleges and simply hang a bird feeder in northeastern Michigan. Within hours, it becomes a contested supply hub. Within days, a full-blown squirrel conflict emerges—predictable, ruthless, and strangely educational.
The Good News They Don’t Tell You About
Currently, polar bears are fatter than they have been in the last 30 years. In a recent study, 770 polar bears were in better condition and had higher fat reserves than in the 1990s. In other good news, I also have higher fat reserves than I did in the ‘90s.