If you’re new to The River, you may know me as that lady who works at Cityteam, but I’ve only worked there for a couple years. Previously, my life was devoted to education. I spent close to thirty years going to college, getting a teaching credential, teaching elementary...
She stands in front of the supermarket and asks if I can spare some change. I’ve seen her before in the neighborhood. She may be developmentally disabled and lives in one of the local board and care homes, where she gets food, lodging, supervision, and a small allowance...
My childhood experience of church was of a hungry institution that always wanted more. I grew up in a Chinese immigrant church where attendance always hovered around 100 people, but the number of people who served regularly was much smaller. For my parents, who both came from...
A few weeks ago, during China’s weeklong National holiday in early October, I was faced with a quandary. After a tiring September, I very much wanted to take a week off for myself to veg, recuperate, and satisfy my introverted self. Around this time, however, I was asked to...
The Happiest Place on Earth isn’t so happy for me. Going to Disneyland stretches me in all of my painful places. In an effort not to use the h-word, I’ll just say I really, really don’t like crowds. I really, really don’t like blaring music. I really, really...