Pity, 'PAW Patrol,' and adoption

I have an essay in the upcoming issue of Mockingbird Magazine.

A sneak-peak of the cover art for the Home Issue of Mockingbird Magazine

Hey, friends. I know that it’s been a month since the last thing I wrote (which, conveniently, was about a month). Our household has been sick almost the entire stretch since then: me thrice, Lindsey twice, the kids multiple times. It’s been super fun. A slog-y, sickly-summer kind of fun. Needless to say, being down with the sickness has made it harder than normal to get words on the page / screen.

But don’t worry. I’ve got a couple posts in the works that I hope to have ready in the next couple weeks—progress updates about our life that don’t pertain to the texture and color of my sinus congestion.

For now, I wanted to share the news that I have an essay appearing in the next edition of Mockingbird Magazine. This edition—Issue 25: Home—will ship at the end of August. You can pre-order it here. Sometimes magazine pieces will find their way on the Mockingbird website, but I don’t know about mine, so the only sure way to get your eyes on my contribution is by ordering a copy (or starting a subscription!). (Full disclosure. I am not on staff at Mockingbird and I won’t see a dime from pre-orders or subscriptions.)

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If I had a writing “bucket list,” having something published in Mockingbird Magazine would be pretty high on the list. I’ve subscribed to this publication for several years. The past issues are displayed prominently on a bookshelf in our living room. I am still in a bit of disbelief that my pitch got accepted and that my writing is appearing in a publication alongside a Q&A interview with the poet Christian Wiman. Cray, as the kids used to say. What’s more, every issue of the Mockingbird Magazine is beautifully designed. They’re a delight to just hold. And they’re full of thought-provoking essays and poems and other good stuff on the Good News.

So, the theme in the upcoming issue is home. My piece explores the idea of the forever home we have in our spiritual adoption through Christ, by way of looking at the biblical case for “pity.” I do a fair bit of recounting our fostering and adoption journeys. I also let out some steam about PAW Patrol. Yes, the animated kids show / movie. Don’t worry, it works.

What’s wild is that I started on this piece in late April—several weeks before I knew we’d be re-entering portions of the narrative I share in the essay. The week I got final edits to review was the week the two kiddos were placed with us. It was almost (almost) as if God was preparing me for this adventure by giving me the opportunity to write 2,500 words about what he’s already done and what he was about to do.

To recap: the Home issue drops the end of August; you can pre-order it here. I won’t see a dime, but you’ll be supporting a ministry that faithfully plumbs the depths of culture, sociology, and the arts for echoes of the gospel.

Thanks, as always, for reading.