Author Archives: Karen Molenaar Terrell

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About Karen Molenaar Terrell

Karen's stories have appeared in *Newsweek*, *The Christian Science Monitor*, and *Pack and Paddle Magazine* and she's the author of *Are You Taking Me Home Now?: Adventures with Dad*, *The Second Hundred Years: Further Adventures with Dad*, *The Brush of Angel Wings*, *The Madcap Christian Scientist* series, *A Poem Sits on my Windowsill*, *Finding the Rainbows: Lessons from Dad and Mom*, and co-author of *The Humoristian Chronicles: A Most Unusual Fellowship*. Her photos are featured in the spring 2014 edition of the *Bellingham Review*, and the "Photos from the Field" page of the April/May 2017, December/January 2018-2019, April/May 2019, and June/July 2020 issues of of *Mother Earth News*. Her photos can be found here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/60803140@N06/ Her books can be found here: http://www.amazon.com/Karen-Molenaar-Terrell/e/B0044P90RQ/ref=sr_ntt_srch_lnk_1?qid=1312060042&sr=8-

Starbucks Cups

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For crying out loud! When did it become unpatriotic and divisive to want to bring people of different backgrounds together?!! When did showing love and kindness to others become a political issue?! You’d think people of every stripe and polka dot would at least be able to agree on the notion that kindness and love are good things! If this has now become a partisan issue – I want to belong to the party that promotes love and kindness, thank you very much.

“‘During a divisive time in our country, Starbucks wanted to create a symbol of unity as a reminder of our shared values, and the need to be good to each other,’ said Howard Schultz, the coffee giant’s chairman and CEO.”

politics

My Joy

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My Joy

My joy depends on no man
or woman or place
or circumstance and nothing
can keep my heart from soaring.
– Karen Molenaar Terrell

snowgeese-in-flight-contrast

Photo of snow geese by Karen Molenaar Terrell.

 

 

Note to Self

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“Not personal intercommunion but divine law is the communicator of truth, health, and harmony to earth and humanity.”
– Mary Baker Eddy

not-separated

“In the Eyes of Most of Us”

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When I read “your two thinkers are very
discredited in the eyes of most of us” 
after a friend had posted a story on poverty
in America I found myself sitting here
with a frown between my brows, 
trying to puzzle it out.

Who are “the most of us” of which you
speak? Most of who? Most of whom?
And are you including me in your us?
Because I actually want to read what
my friend has to share about poverty
in America. I might learn something new.

Complacent, comfortable, isolated, insulated,
we sit each in our homes, assuming
everyone thinks exactly the same way
we do. We turn our televisions on to
the usual channels and listen to the same
old perspectives, and nod our heads

in contented, unquestioning agreement.
And our ponds grow stagnant without fresh,
tumbling brooks stirring up the waters
our joints get calcified and rigid as we sit
in our easy chairs, nodding our heads, lulled
by the same phrases parroted over and over…
– Karen Molenaar Terrell

“The time for thinkers has come. Truth, independent of doctrines and time-honored systems, knocks at the portal of humanity. Contentment with the past and the cold conventionality of materialism are crumbling away.”
– Mary Baker Eddy

most-of-us

 

Dear Class,

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Dear class,

Bullying is not cool. Being a bully does not make you a winner, and it does not make you right. Insulting others, pushing others around, trying to stop others from expressing their opinions and beliefs, ganging up on others, harassing others, and using your power as a mob, or as an individual, to intimidate others is not okay. Bigotry is not okay. Brazen disregard for the rights, safety, and well-being of others is not okay.

Alrighty. Carry on then…
Mrs. T.

“It requires courage to utter truth; for the higher Truth lifts her voice, the louder will error scream, until its inarticulate sound is forever silenced in oblivion.”
– Mary Baker Eddy

 

Be still, and know that Love is God.

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be-still-3

photo by Karen Molenaar Terrell 

Because that is how you roll…

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Copper Puddles

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Copper puddles and puppy cuddles
autumn brings apple cider smells
and musky leaves and wool sweaters
out of cedar chests and crisp mornings
and rainy days and cold starry nights 
that hint of winter to come…
– Karen Molenaar Terrell

SAMSUNG CAMERA PICTURES

photo by Karen Molenaar Terrell 

My Go-To People

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During this contentious political season – when stories of defriending, blocking, ad homineming, weeping and much gnashing of teeth are circulating on Facebook – I feel compelled to take a moment and give a shout out to the friends who have shown nothing but class to me – even though we sometimes/often disagree on political issues. These are my “go-to” people when I need a different perspective on things…

republican-friends

“We should remember that the world is wide; that there are a thousand million different human wills, opinions, ambitions, tastes, and loves; that each person has a different history, constitution, culture, character, from all the rest; that human life is the work, the play, the ceaseless action and reaction upon each other of these different atoms. Then, we should go forth into life with the smallest expectations, but with the largest patience; with a keen relish for and appreciation of everything beautiful, great, and good, but with a temper so genial that the friction of the world shall not wear upon our sensibilities; with an equanimity so settled that no passing breath nor accidental disturbance shall agitate or ruffle it; with a charity broad enough to cover the whole world’s evil, and sweet enough to neutralize what is bitter in it…”
– Mary Baker Eddy

 

Thoughts on Abortion

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I’ve never had an abortion. Never been in circumstances where that was something that even needed to be considered. Both my pregnancies were planned. The sons were seen to be healthy and whole in the womb. My life and health were never in jeopardy during the pregnancies. Both pregnancies were times of joyful anticipation for me. But I think I can imagine – at least a little – how it might feel to be a woman in different circumstances than my own – in a difficult pregnancy, in a situation that might seem impossible and hopeless. I can imagine the despair and the gut-wrenching fear. And I just don’t believe that it’s my place – or anyone else’s – to have any say in another woman’s pregnancy. Obviously, there should be – and already are – restrictions when the fetus becomes sentient and viable. But a woman’s feelings and needs should never be brushed aside cavalierly as if they don’t matter. Because they do.