Author: Jill

Grief

I read the Game of Thrones book series a few years ago, and am still waiting for the next book. I did not watch the HBO version, I have this strange idea that some things should be left to the imagination, but I digress. The element of that story that moved me the most was the mammoth number of deaths. The Washington Post reported 456 deaths, up to the 5th season from the cable version. (If you are a fan, the article is great, entitled, “Valar Morghulis” posted in April 2015.) Ned Stark, “Winter is Coming,” Lord of Winterfell, Hand...

Reframing

My name is Jill, and I am an unhoarder. Basically, my incredibly intellectual name for the opposite of a hoarder. If an item in my home has not been used within a certain amount of time, it gets tossed. Things I particularly like, on the stubborn hand, I will never let go of. This is why you will find a copy of the 1998 movie, Ever After, in my possession. Wikipedia describes this movie as a “post-feminist, historical fiction take on the Cinderella story.” Cinderella, in general, is described as a “European folk tale embodying a myth-element of unjust oppression.”...

Beautiful Outlaw

Healing the Memories I’m trying to talk my son’s college age friends into doing a study on John Eldredge’s book, Beautiful Outlaw. This book was vital in my spiritual growth when it came time for me to leave the institutional church for good. I have a poster in my closet on his list of differences between “religion & relationship.”* I like to write shit out, big surprise, huh? But the main reason I want them to study it and the reason I am thinking about it today is this one question he asked. “How have you learned Jesus?” Kind of...