Lace M. Williams

The phone rang. Upon answering, my dad was on the line to ask a question that, coming from him, took me by surprise. “What do you know about Calvinism?” Before I could respond, I heard my dad say, “Here is my daughter.” Shortly, I was on the phone with one of his paint contractors.

I've never pondered the connection between my faith and organ donation. I tend to avoid thinking of my own death, so the question of organ donation comes up only every four years when renewing my driver's license.

Everyday my 3-year old son and I partake of this ritual. As we sit at our cozy kitchen table and eat lunch together, he’ll say, “Mama, do you want to play ‘Santa Claus is comin’ to town’?”

Continuing with the question of the possibility of transcending personal beliefs, and the need to do so to discover another’s humanity, I delve into John R. Searle’s theories of language and mind.

Have you ever considered how your language skills have evolved? From crying and screaming to understanding the alphabet. From cooing and mumbling to building words with letters.

Two main groups gathered for one purpose on Aug. 20 at Spokane City Hall. Supporters of the Spokane Guilds' School, and the homeless, packed the basement because of the Vehicle Interference (Panhandling) Ordinance that would prohibit all groups from collecting money on the streets of Spokane, city-wide.

We had never met, though I recognized him when he came for me at our arranged time. Shorter than I, he stood about 5 feet tall, gray and hunched over. 

He walked out of the woods.

I watched from a distance, though I still felt afraid.

He stood where the weeds meet the road.