Category Archive: Cindy Koch

Creative Faith

By Cindy Koch –

Just like any other Sunday, the ushers marched down the center aisle halfway through the church service. Their leather dress shoes kept even time with the piano music during the offering. As they passed our pew, I noticed neither one of the gentlemen were looking at their destination. Their heads were tipped to the right and they both wore a proud, goofy smile. I scanned the rest of the congregation for a clue to their delight. In a wave of curiosity, every man woman and child also turned to focus on the grand piano on the side of the church.

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Bad Moms Exposed

By Cindy Koch –

She put down the glasses for just a moment. The door swung open and a wave of voices rushed in.  Hugs, hair, purses perfume, swirled around the bar as a fresh group of women performed the ritualistic welcome dance at the “meet you there” spot. Wine glasses lined up and ready, the bartender began her pours in a steady liquid rhythm: white, red, white.

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Go Out

By Cindy Koch –

Many good advice-givers tell me that marriage is hard work. I even want to believe them in these times of kids, activities, commitments, meetings, bills, stress, and the endless search for rest. My husband of 18 years, now, is a familiar face in the blur of everyday routine. And sometimes, I find myself missing the friend I knew in my youth.

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“Love your Spouse” Challenged

By Cindy Koch –

It’s sometimes funny to me the debates I entertain in my own mind. And this week I debate with myself over the infamous #loveyourspouse challenge that is plastered all over Facebook and other such imaginary places. Seven days of pictures, seven days of lovely sayings, seven days of carefully selected moments, seven days to incur the jealousy and disgust of the not-as-happy virtual world. I put the question to myself – could I, should I, #lovemyspouse?

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Poor Hillary Clinton

By Cindy Koch –

The Democratic convention is in session this week, ready to announce the first woman to run for president of the United States. And it looks like the day will come sooner than later when we must consider a female leading our country. While we all knew this would happen sooner or later, there is still much to talk about, much to hope in, and much more to mourn. I have only begun to grieve for our sons and daughters of independence.

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Cry Room

By Cindy Koch –

Screaming, scolding, sobbing, shushing… Sunday morning church can be an emotional event for both parent and child. Just last Sunday I held a tired darling little baby girl in the Cry Room, sobbing through the scheduled silence of church. I was transported back to a few years earlier rocking my very own bawling baby, hearing only his angry cry (and not the prayers).

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Guys – Stop ordaining our women!

By Cindy Koch –

I know you think it’s a helpful and progressive thing. I’m guessing you know some pretty amazing gals. I’m sure you’re concerned about sounding like a jerk. But stop it, for the sake of our women.

A leader of the church is someone amazing, but not because there is something amazing about the person. One is amazing because God puts gifts in his hands and words in his mouth. God chooses and uses things and people to deliver his gifts.

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Losing our Identity

By Cindy Koch –

Any self-reflective person questions herself at some point in life. Am I making the right decision? Have I walked the good path? Who am I, and what am I doing here? Surely, some people don’t care to examine the motivation that drives them. Some people don’t give the time to consider the outcome of their choices. But I suspect you are someone who ponders your identity.

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Label Me

By Cindy Koch –

For a little boy in a house full of girls, there is a lot to learn. At two, he was shocked to find that only girls painted their toes. Three years old, he grew into an obsession with cars, never a Barbie. At four, his favorite color was black, apparently the opposite of pink. Five years old, and he learned how to burp just to gross out the sisters. And now at six, he finally laughs at dad’s jokes about trying on a pink dress. Ever since he was small, he searched out what it meant to be a boy, at least within the walls of our home.

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Red Piano

By Cindy Koch –

Stepping into another chapter of life, we may pause after the page turn and ask a very important question. Who am I? I remember what I did last week. I recall the conversations I had. I can think of the people, places, and even the feelings of yesterday. But today, I sit and stare at the fresh page and ask that same question once again: who am I?

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I Don’t Have Time for This Crap

By Cindy Koch –

It creeps up every year. Unexpectedly, all of a sudden, our normal and comfortable daily routine merges into the fast lane. I always seem to feel this pressure in the Spring, when the school year is ending, the kids’ performances are scheduled, the end of the year parties are planned, and the world seems to be ending as we all say goodbye at a graduation of some sort. I’ll never know why the close of such things (that happen every year, by the way) call for so many homemade cupcakes and flower bouquets. I have a strange feeling we will all be here again next June, stressing out together at the end of another school year.

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God the Mother—It Actually Matters

By Cindy Koch –

Opening my front door, I saw a man and woman smiling enthusiastically. “Hi, can I share a few Bible verses with you today?” she said flipping through a well-worn floppy book. I politely consented. “Who can get enough of God’s word?” I thought. After pointing out some nice words about our happy eternity, she said, “Now I sure you are familiar with praying to God as Father, but have you prayed to God the Mother?”

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Polite Little Town.

By Cindy Koch –

Once upon a time, there was a town full of people who were very polite. Everyone smiled and sang, “Hi, how are you?” Ladies sauntered in leisure and men strolled at a composed quiet pace. Clothes were comfortable, boots were worn-in, and hair flowed gently around relaxed shoulders. In this little town, gardens lined the perfectly silent streets. Clear blue skies frosted the rooftops of each perfectly groomed home. The sweet smell of unity and peace and well-being swirled around every corner.

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Fireplace Church

By Cindy Koch –

For years, I was told that church was a place of refuge. My pastor spoke of this mighty fortress of strength. My Sunday school teachers taught about this safe place of pasture. My parents talked about these people as if they were familiar relatives. And so I just assumed that church was a good place.

Like the warm Christmas fire, I can remember the red brick fireplace of my youth and the warm, soft church chairs on a Sunday morning.

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The Reign of the Standardized Test

By Cindy Koch –

Maybe you were lucky enough to be sick on that great, terrible day. I was never that fortunate. Even if I didn’t make it into that strangely reverent gymnasium on the appointed day and time, I knew they would find me eventually. Relentlessly, they accounted for every young soul on their closely monitored educational path. Young or old, smart or dumb— all must stand before the Almighty Standardized Test.

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