THE WAY BACK BLOG

One mission. Many voices.

short story Kimberly Phinney short story Kimberly Phinney

Carry Your Cross

Some seasons feel so heavy that they become like burdens—or like 10-pound weights attached to the wings of a butterfly (I’ll get to the butterflies later). For my family, and many others more, life since 2020 has felt this way. From Covid-19 and quarantines to political strife and economic instability, in every way life has felt harder. And adding an additional health trauma to the list also showed us that my illness-turned-disability has a way of seeping into every aspect of our lives, leaving nothing untouched: work, family planning, schooling, friends, social outings, transportation, access, opportunities, and reputation.

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✨I am so blessed to kick off our Advent series: A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS, inspired by Caravaggio’s Nativity and John 1:4-5.✨ 6 amazing writers will be joining us through the month of December to meditate on this theme: @deidrebraley @rosagilber
🎉Mark your calendars for 12/10! TWBTO will be celebrating our Literary Journal’s FALL COLLECTION: The Peace of Wild Things with open mic, celebration, and connection. ✍🏿✍🏾✍🏽✍🏼All published artists and authors of the journal are warmly in
✨The Way Back to Ourselves is honored to present our Advent series at the blog, A LIGHT IN THE DARKNESS.✨ Join us throughout the month of December as we make the journey toward Christmas and draw ever near to Christ’s eternal LIGHT. Enjoy po
🍁Happy Thanksgiving & God bless you all. I am SO very grateful for YOU.🍁 Here’s a little invocation for the day of thanks giving with a poetic touch. I pray it blesses you & that Thanksgiving fills you in some way—whether you
🎉The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal is honored to celebrate the six very special poets we have nominated for the Pushcart Prize: ✍🏼Karen Swallow Prior with “Of the Smaller Miracles” @karenswallowprior ✍🏼Nicholas Trandahl wit
🌲🍁🏔️ It feels like Christmas Day for the editors & me—& no doubt, you too, if you were published in our literary journal’s Fall Collection: THE PEACE OF WILD THINGS, inspired by the work of Wendell Berry! Why??? 🍁🍁BECAUSE
This week has been hard. I’m still struggling to process the sharp downward turn in my health the past few months. I can’t thank you all enough for your beautiful prayers & messages this week, as I faced appointments &a
🎉GIVEAWAY ALERT: THE PEACE OF LITERARY THINGS. Enter NOW through Sunday 11/17 at midnight EST to get in on these literary goodies to kick off the fall season.🎉 🍁We want to celebrate & highlight The Way Back to Ourselves’ creative, editi
🌌I’ve been taking long looks at the night sky lately. It’s helping me get by. I tuck my prayers and hopes in those stars. I see the face of God. It quiets my mind, eases my soul, and reminds me how small I am—and I like this ki
🇺🇸I know it’s Election Day, but I just wanted to break up your feed with some good news that isn’t political. ✍🏼I’m blessed to share that my essay, “A Promise in the Darkness,” was published in @ct_mag Advent Devoti
❤️‍🩹I’m not myself. I’ve been struggling quite a bit. This post couldn’t have happened without the love of a faithful friend coming beside me. It was her words that bolstered my weary ♥️ yesterday when I was finding it
🎶 It’s finally here! TWBTO is proud to present the reboot of The Artist’s Interview with writer, artist, & musician Joel Adock of @writtenwithinco. In this in-depth & inspirational interview, contributor @steve.can.draw sits dow