By MARIANNE WOOD Recently I had the privilege of meeting some fellow writers for the first time. In my impromptu remarks at our small gathering, I mangled a concept from the English crime writer and poet Dorothy Sayers. I want to set that straight (assuming you are reading) because the impact of her idea carries tremendous value for artists of
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By MARIANNE WOOD The first thing you learn as students of the Latin dance Tango is to keep your knees bent. Our instructor, Sophia, taught that essential lesson to our ballroom dancing class about two months ago. She followed up with these steps: a corte and a sit-down. The first step advances; the second retreats. We then learned to promenade
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By MARIANNE WOOD Sisterhood is Powerful, the title of a textbook for my women’s studies class in 1976, served a purpose for a radically new course. This title fits today as I examine the impact of women in the history of my life–the sisterhood of many decades that has genuinely been powerful in many ways. I’ve written before about my
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD I have arrived. No, not at heaven’s gate. And not at some new success level, but yes, to a special status: a church lady, the kind of woman who cooks for, cries with, and cradles her church. The church ladies of my youth held tea parties and decorated the sanctuary for different seasons. In modest dresses and
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD Ephesians 5:15-16 says “Be very careful, then, how you live–not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity because the days are evil. (NIV) The NKJ versions translates “make the most of every opportunity” as “redeeming the time.” Colossians 4:5 says “Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD Oscar Wilde satirized Victorian behavior in his comedy, The Importance of Being Earnest. The chief character, Ernest, who is only Ernest in the city and known as Jack in the country, is obviously neither earnest nor serious. Ditto for the play. Though it is a delight. Reading J.D. Vance’s article, “How I joined the Resistance” in The
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD My friend Susan Englerth reminds me of the Proverbs 31 woman, she who is referred to as “The Wife of Noble Character” in the Old Testament. For evidence I offer that her husband adores her; we can see that. She is strong and trades profitably. Ask her about a certain sailboat deal! And I have no doubt
Read moreBy MARIANNE WOOD Obituaries, often called simply, “obits,” offer readers a rich trove of stories. But their main purpose, providing family and friends a way to publicly honor a departed loved one with a quick depiction of a person’s life, usually features a photo and three to many paragraphs of biographical information. These brief to ponderously long works of non-fiction
Read moreBy Marianne Wood Like many, I’ve read lots of books and essays on prayer. Writers have definitely taken on this task for good reasons. And they have been helpful. Right now I’m enjoying Paul Miller’s A Praying Life: Connecting with God in a Distracting World. I’m learning that “prayer is meant to be the conversation where your life and your
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