I'll Have The Curry.

Austin Civic Orchestra, May 2023 at Bates Recital Hall, University of Texas at Austin I have a ritual on Tuesdays.   It’s something that I do each week during the school year; something that I’ve done faithfully for the last 15 years.   It brings me immense joy, even if it’s a pain to carve out the time in my schedule. Each Tuesday, I attend rehearsal as a violinist in the Austin Civic Orchestra.   Each week is different, yet feels the same- I sit down at my chair in a public high school band hall that smells strongly like spit from emptied spit valves and has a lingering smell of teenaged sweat mixed with body splash. We wait for the minute-hand to hit the quarter hour after seven and watch the concertmistress call our 90 piece orchestra to order. We silence our side conversations and listen closely for the oboe player to articulate the perfect A, 440 hz to be exact, to which I attempt to precisely match my A string on my violin. Once all my stings are tuned, I silently wait for our

A pastoral prayer, for the people of First Baptist Church of Austin February 11, 2024 I wrote this prayer thinking of all the women who have come before me, fighting for a place of leadership in the church, for the chance to preach in the pulpit.  I wrote this prayer for all those who will come after me, a generation of women who I hope will be encouraged and championed into leadership in all areas of our society. And for my daughter. May she believe that she is worthy and loved by a God who calls women to participate in God's plan for the world.  God of equality, and inclusion, God of possibilities and futures, God of empowerment and companionship… We are thankful that your love extends to all people, that your call makes no distinction of gender. You are the one who invites us all into your work to bring heaven to earth.  We are thankful for the mothers of our faith, women like Sarah, Tamar, Rahab, Ruth, Mary, Deborah, Anna, and Phoebe and countless other brave women who faithful