THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES

Community Literary Journal

THE WAY BACK TO OURSELVES PRESENTS:

THE SPRING COLLECTION: IN HIS GARDEN

coming in April…

The Spring Collection: IN HIS GARDEN Print Journal Coming in May 2025

The Way Back to Ourselves is proud to present our FIRST print journal arriving in May 2025. Enjoy the free digital collection in this stunning keepsake for purchase on Amazon in paperback and hardcover from The Way Back Books, an imprint of TheWayBack2Ourselves.com.

Listen to the poets of The Way Back to Ourselves Literary Journal perform their work with our NEW podcast, The Poetry Corner, a spin-off from The Way Back Podcast, hosted by Edward Holmes and Deidre Braley.

Lines of Sight
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Lines of Sight

Jenny Larks poem, “Lines of Sight,” meditates on the timeless theme of expectation versus reality when she goes to see a fixer-upper to buy. The experience is surprising.

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Scattering My Scarecrows
essay Kimberly Phinney essay Kimberly Phinney

Scattering My Scarecrows

In her essay “Scattering My Scarecrows,” Civil Winters explores how a Japanese wheat farmer changed her perspective on hope and second chances.

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The Beauty Of
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

The Beauty Of

In her reflective poem “The Beauty Of,” Katie Drobina navigates the complexity of discovering Truth while in the throes of healing from trauma.

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The Battlefield of Healing and Other Poems
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

The Battlefield of Healing and Other Poems

In her touching poem “The Battlefield of Healing,” Sarah Steele reminds readers that healing is a lifelong work. In her poem “Happy Sad,” she explores the tension of experiencing moments of happiness while still deep in the throes of healing.

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Ruins
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Ruins

In her moving poem “Ruins,” Rebecca Hardie encourages us to step out of the fog and catch a glimpse of God’s great kindness and love.

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The Most
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

The Most

In her short yet powerful poem “The Most,” Mariana Mosli explores our universal need and Jesus’ response.

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Chasing the Light
essay Kimberly Phinney essay Kimberly Phinney

Chasing the Light

In her essay “Chasing the Light,” Sarah May makes a practice of looking for the light sprinkled throughout life’s darkest days.

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New Dance of Life and Other Poems
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

New Dance of Life and Other Poems

In her trio of poems “New Dance of Life,” “Music to Christ’s Ears,” and “Carrying Through,” Alexis Ragan reflects of new life at this end of this life, the sounds of life that are sweet to Jesus, and what it means to persevere during hardship.

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Slaughtering Lies and Other Stories
short story Kimberly Phinney short story Kimberly Phinney

Slaughtering Lies and Other Stories

In her short story “Slaughtering Lies,” Awara Fernández describes how a discarded dog brought her hope in the face of her own suffering. In “Masquerading as Crows,” she explores the loss that comes with Alzheimer’s Disease and the future restoration found in God.

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Restore Me Back to One
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Restore Me Back to One

In her poem “Restore Me Back to One,” Ili Nicole Felix assesses her life and asks God to help restore her heart, just as a surgeon might do for his patient.

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Waiting Room and Other Poems
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Waiting Room and Other Poems

In her poem “Waiting Room,” Chelsea Fraser paints a setting of her old life, waiting for restoration. In her other poems, she also explores themes of identity and motherhood.

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Anxiety’s Lies
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Anxiety’s Lies

In her moving poem “Anxiety’s Lies,” Elizabeth Houseman reflects on a time in her youth when anxiety stole her hope and how she refuses to allow it to do the same in adulthood.

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Autumn Snow and Other Poems
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Autumn Snow and Other Poems

In her poetry “Autumn Snow” and “In the Garden at Night,” Deanna Mims revels in the seasons as nature reveals deeper spiritual meanings to her.

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Trust and Other Poems
poetry Kimberly Phinney poetry Kimberly Phinney

Trust and Other Poems

In her touching poetry, Donna Bucher reflects on key moments in her life when she learned to trust God despite living in darkness.

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The Way Back to Ourselves and our Literary Journal is not for profit and FREE for all to read and enjoy. If you believe in our cause and want to support our mission and the creation of our journal and other content, like our podcast and blog, please consider donating. Thank you. God bless you. You belong here.

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