What I've Been Up to in 2024
Scroll to the bottom for a list of my 2024 publications!
I used to carry a detailed of grievances.
Remember when Sarah Palin was on the ticket for vice president? I heard some people near me voted for the Democratic presidential candidate not because of his policies or convictions but because they didn’t think Palin would be conduct herself well and think straight when she was on her period.
I also once heard someone claim that 1 Corinthians 14:34, the hotly contested verse about women staying silent in church, was inspired by the fact that women are slightly intellectually deficient in comparison with their male counterparts, and so Paul didn’t want women talking in church so as not to interrupt and keep their husbands from learning as much as they could.
Those words terrified me. I held the light in, creator of very little aside from the dreams in my mind, dreams of writing without the muzzle of fear to stop me.
But that was a list of grievances I used to carry, so I’ll stop short there. I have found there are more important inventories to take.
I now carry a list of women to imitate as they imitate Christ.
I watch in awe as
, steely and soft, clad in hippie clothes and relentless curiosity, fights the good fight of faith with a plethora of weapons: a pen, a cooking spatula, a toddler, the entire German language, a sharp wit, and a wildly impressive list of publication credentials.I treasure conversations with
, a law student at Cornell, as she tackles the grey areas, the paths rife with tension, that she encounters as a devout Christian in the legal system, all the while remaining tender-hearted and welcoming and fostering new life in her wombWhat other creators, nurturers of life, are there to mention? — far too many.
I learn from my friend, Tiki, who uses the wealth of knowledge and experience she gained in seminary to engage with the Kingdom’s toughest personalities in campus ministry. I learn from eloquent, elegant Kelly, who worships God rain or shine (both figuratively and literally) in her backyard and can make wonderlands out of soil and seeds. I learn from Marcia, who speaks words from God’s very heart to men and women in generations after her in order to edify the church. I learn from Adina, who somehow can encourage you, make you feel seen, and introduce you to your five new best friends because she somehow knew exactly what, and who, you’d need. I learn from Deborah, who invites me to feast on grapes from her micro-vineyard and becomes real family with international students from every corner of the globe, all things to all people. I learn from Cindy, who lovingly crafts themed dinners twice a month for dozens from church and hosts everyone with grace and confidence.
I learn from my mother, who is a piano teacher in name and also a Biblical counselor in practice, who spends a half hour helping both cheerful kids and sullen kids plunk out the notes to her affectionately self-composed sheet music…and then spends another half hour listening to them weep over their own lists of grievances because they know, they know, that Nancy will love and care for them, no matter what.
I learn from my mother-in-law, who is the church’s official “evangelist” and engages with each Christ-seeking newcomer, willing to set aside her precious, limited free time if it means she can teach them about the ridiculously Good News of Jesus.
These women, through Christ, have given me another list to carry.
Yep, that’s my cheesy transition into the list I never thought I would be able to write: the list of poems that have found homes in the Christian literary circle, nestled away among writers and believers who are far further ahead in their writing journey than I am. I have learned, through them, that God calls everyone to steward the light and clay He’s given us. In the past month, I have been thrilled to begin to dip my toes into the Christian publication social world and begin to surround myself with writers such as
and and publications such as and The Way Back to Ourselves ( ).Here are some of my God-grown fruits from the journey, all published in 2024. Simply click on the title to find the poem:
“Mary Remembers Her Lullaby”
The Clayjar Review, Issue #10.
A poem.
“Subzero Sabbath in the Midwest”
The Clayjar Review, Issue #10.
“Light Has Fingerprints”
Vessels of Light Journal, Christmas Edition 2024.
A poem.
“Snowflakes, or The Messiah” My second-favorite of all this year!
Vessels of Light Journal, Christmas Edition 2024.
A poem. Keep in mind that this poem was not published in its original format, and the stanzas are not grouped into couplets as the original was written. Contact me to get emailed the poem in its proper format. Also, my name was misspelled.
“Jesus, Eight Years Old”
Voice and Virtue, Issue #1.
A poem.
“Family Habit”
Voice and Virtue, Issue #1.
A poem.
“Eating Is Worship”
Heart of Flesh Literary Magazine, Issue #12.
A nonfiction piece.
“Blessed Are the Pure in Heart”
Kosmeo Magazine, Summer 2024 Issue.
A poem.
“Night Vigil”
Kosmeo Magazine, Summer 2024 Issue.
A poem.
“Road Trip with God”
Calf Magazine, Issue #1.
A poem — print only.
“My Body, God’s Treasure”
The Truly Co. Blog.
A nonfiction piece. Note on a small error: “overeating” should be “undereating.”
“A Song for Recovery” My favorite of all this year!!
The Clayjar Review, Issue #7.
A poem.
We are called to be lightkeepers who create and overcome.
My final offering in this post is a hastily-written, half-formed poem that is too unhinged and unpolished to release into the world anywhere else besides here:
“Who Can Find a Courageous Woman?”
A poem
Chayil. An inventory: Fifty times, this word in the Word means “valiant.”
Twelve times, it means “strength.” Nine times, it means “power.”Chayil. Khah’-yil. The Author uses this word to describe David screaming
in the front lines of battle. Is it reserved for the masculine?No, Chayil peeks out from Proverbs 31: “who can find a [Chayil] woman?”
Naomi speaks it over Ruth, too — “everyone knows you are [Chayil].”Chayil. Roll it around in your mouth, those syllables, force space
for them in your mind, because “virtuous” no longer means “mousy”
or “timid” or “confined” — it means overcoming and strong.Valiant. You can’t claim ignorance anymore. You know.
I hope that all those fearfully holding themselves back from serving God in full color and vibrance can come to know the joy of learning about God through creating alongside Him. Read these next words from the Sower, and instead of shrugging them aside as long-memorized adages, really dig your toes into their soil and consider with me the nature of this work that we have been called to:
“Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take My yoke upon you and learn from Me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For My yoke is easy, and My burden is light.” Matthew 11:28-30
In all our lives, in every way: to God be the glory, great things He has done.
You’ve written + published incredible pieces this year, Rachel. I’m honored to be mentioned here and happy we connected in 2024. May we keep growing in community and craft in 2025! I’m a big fan of yours! 🤍