English Lessons
What Releasing a Book Has Taught Me, One Year Later
One year ago today English Lessons was born. To commemorate this book’s first birthday, I would like to write it a thank you note/birthday card. If you think this is strange, don’t worry, it is. But when you write a book, it kind of becomes its own entity. A person in itself. You birthed it,…
Read MoreI Am Not Good at Being Me, Except When I Write
I am not very good at being myself. But I am very good at being who people want me to be. I can walk into a room, read the situation and take on a persona. (I would probably be a great spy.) A room of academics? I’ll try and act smart. A room of Christians?…
Read MoreI Want to Come to Your Book Club and Give You Presents!
Attention all book clubs, Are you considering reading English Lessons in July or August? If so, I would love to know! For two reasons: 1. I would like to mail your group some custom made stationary as a gift. Isn’t it beautiful? 2. I would like to Skype (or FaceTime) into one your gatherings for…
Read MoreWhat Happens When We Love Others First, And God Second
by Alyssa DeLosSantos Dear Younger Me, I see you caving under the weight of all you are trying to get “right.” You are worn out and discouraged from trying to earn your worth. You may bristle at what I’m about to say because these words might feel like an ill-fitting garment, but I’m begging you…
Read MoreLook Past the Clearance Jesus
by Sarah Brooks *** If you were to Google stock photos of Good Christian Teenagers, my high school yearbook picture would show up. I was the World’s Best. Someone needs a volunteer for the mission trip? Camp? Retreat? Bible study? Prayer team? Small group? Sign me up. There’s a new ministry? It’s called Ignite? Elevate? Revolution? Engage? Impact? I’ll…
Read MoreWhen Doing Everything Right Is No Longer…Right
by Devi Duerrmeier *** It was a solid concrete mass of a highway that got you there. Straight on Highway 412, a right onto Holly Street and then a slight left on West University Avenue. On the left across from the cathedral is a graveyard. Concrete tombstones dotted the green field, there were trees and…
Read MoreThe Difference Between Worshiping God and Worshiping Comfort
by Jordan Harrell *** Dear 19-Year-Old Me, You’re probably wearing a t-shirt and baggy sweatpants, a ponytail wagging back-and-forth as you bee-bop around your Christian university in between chapel and the campus center. The whole concept of “college” as an educational experience is beyond you, but you sincerely enjoy it nonetheless. Yours is a…
Read MoreHow to Squeeze Hope into a Life Ridden by Fear
by Kaitlin Wernet *** Dear 16-Year-Old Kaitlin, We’re going to Sea World! Younger self, if we could cross paths at the same time, that’s exactly where I’d take you. We’d sit on the hot bleachers, watching seals wave hello as we welcomed memories of your first time there. You were four and it was the…
Read MoreWhen You Trust God with Some Things, But Not Everything
by Hanna Seymour *** Dear Hanna, Last night was a big night for you. It’s taken years for you to get to this point and it finally happened. You love God. You genuinely desire to seek His will for your life. You try to obey Him, you want to be more like His Son, Jesus.…
Read MoreThe Devastating Effects of People-Pleasing
by Sharon R. Hoover *** “Sure, I can be there.” Ugh, I did it again. With my undiagnosed-people-pleasing nod, I agreed to help with another event on campus. It’s not that the outreach was wrong but the screams of an overbooked schedule reminded me of my limitations. Although college was three decades ago, I…
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