She’s a blogging friend, a contributing editor for The High Calling network and a cross-eyed sister.
She’s taught me to see crosses in all kinds of places.
And now she has me looking for the letter Y.
Her name is Jennifer Dukes Lee.
And I think she’s pretty special.
She used to be a news reporter, and now she teaches journalism at Dordt College in Iowa.
I wish I could sit in her class.
She says, “I enjoy using my reporting skills to chase after the biggest story in history: the redemptive story of Christ. That’s front-page news.”
She’s wife to her favorite farmer (whose favorite slogan is “God’s got it”) and mom to her two favorite girls. And I love that we are on the same crop rotation.
Jennifer describes herself as a broken, most-of-the-time mess and the girl who stumbles down her spiritual path with toilet paper stuck in her shoe.
I love her transparency. Her writing shimmers, and she drives me deep into Him.
She weaves words like this:
“I stand at the edge of the farmfield, a yellowed and dead field waiting for a resurrection. A few amputated stalks bend with the wind, gilded hair blowing on an April morning.” (You Might be a Farmer or a Priest–Or Both)
“Maybe this will sound twisted, but some of my favorite moments with my children have happened over plastic buckets and porcelain toilets.” (Where We Find Transfigured Beauty)
“All the way, I felt shame fall, like I was shedding my skin.” (Woman at the Well)
“We had eight minutes before class started, and I sat there by a flaming torch of God-glory — a young man figuring out his calling.” (On Recognizing the God-Planted Dreams)
“The old farmer is dying, and yet he is a holy marvel. He is a portrait of grace in a breathing body, heart beating but slowing, and he is showing us what it means to live and then to leave.” (Singing Him Home)
Jennifer sees deep.
She posts the best pictures.
And I think she’s pretty special.
I think you will, too.
Getting down with Jesus with Jennifer,
Wisdom’s instruction is to fear the LORD, and humility comes before honor. ~Proverbs 15:33 (NIV)
I agree, Snady.
She’s one of my favorites.
And you too.
-DS
And you one of mine. 😀
Oh Sandy …
You have no idea what an encouragement this is! Your timing — God’s timing — is perfect! Truly … For all sorts of reasons.
This just makes me smile. You are such a dear, dear soul.
And that Y! Gasp! Can I have a copy of that for my Y files? I’m trying to put together a new Y post, and I’d love to use yours! Is that a tree through a frost-covered window? Gorgeous.
Thank you being such a blessing.
Love you, my cross-eyed Deep-See-Diving friend!
Jennifer
😀
You = Blessing.
The photo was taken outside in a snowstorm. The auto-fix on Picasa gave it that blue tinge. It’s yours. I’ll send it and the “unfixed” one–if I can find that one. 😉
Ah, Sandy. You’ve nailed it here. She is indeed cross-eyed. And though I never knew such a condition was contagious, she’s made it so. Beautiful, both of you.
‘Course there’s a reason in you that you recognize that, you know…
I see that condition in you, too, Lyla. 🙂