We already know, based on last week's top 10 list, what Her.meneutics articles got the most pageviews. Now we find out which posts stood out among our own writers.
Bowing Down to Your Birthing Ball? Dismantling the Idol of the Perfect Birth, by Gloria Furman, guest writer (July 30) Sharon Hodde Miller: "This year I became pregnant and was introduced to the crazy culture of American motherhood. The learning curve is steep, the opinions dogmatic. As I prepared to give birth and become a mother, I often found myself tempted to exert control over every detail I could, which only produced greater anxiety in me. Fortunately, Furman's piece corrected my perspective and re-centered it on God."
Bullied News Anchors and Our Fear of Fat, by Lisa Ann Cockrel (October 8) Rachel Marie Stone: "Even Christian books on health and diet miss the important fact that, as Cockrel writes, 'Health is an equation, full of variables, many of which we can't see or don't understand.' Her post reminds us that the fear of fat is often an irrational one that impedes us in loving and accepting our neighbors—and sometimes ourselves."
Love Your Neighbor. Get Your Vaccines, by Rachel Marie Stone (August 20) Courtney Reissig: "I have long wondered how to think clearly about these issues but have lacked a clear understanding of how this all relates to our responsibility as Christians. As an experienced mom, Rachel brings up important points to consider and gives this soon-to-be mom a helpful framework for thinking through the vaccine issue."
Sooo Grateful for My Awesome Hubbie and Life! by Lesley Sebek Miller, guest writer (October 18) Alicia Cohn: "There were so many good posts this year, it's hard to pick a favorite, but this one by Miller is one I still think about often. It's easy to use social media to glorify the good and gloss over the difficult, and I appreciated the reminder to avoid creating a digital image of our 'awesome' life that fails to glorify God or encourage others. I also like that the post included a check-list of our 'responsibilities as Christian online content creators.' "
Gaining the Whole World Wide Web without Losing Our Souls, by Amy Simpson (September 14) Halee Gray Scott: "Whether it's an iPhone, iPad, or laptop, we're connected everywhere, to everyone, all the time. It's an easy and convenient way to work and socialize, but it's also easy to forget what real relationships are. Amy's article is a good conversation starter about the ramifications of the Internet for our relationships and spiritual life."
The Christian Case for the American Dream, by Halee Gray Scott (November 1) Karen Swallow Prior: "The essence of the American dream is the freedom that can allow each person's God-given gifts and talents to flourish. Yet fewer and fewer today believe in the dream—or at least in possibility of attaining it. Scott's reminder that the American Dream is not entirely or even mainly about material success could not be more timely as our nation faces an economic crisis that may well tempt us to sell our freedom for a mess of pottage."
The Second Rage of Jerry Sandusky's Victim #1, by Mary DeMuth, guest writer (October 29) Michelle Van Loon: "DeMuth, an abuse survivor, reminds us in this poignant post that if someone tells us something about abuse they've experienced (or are currently experiencing), we must respond to their courage with compassion and action."
Why Marilynne Robinson, Narrative Calvinist, Doesn't Fear Fox News, by Rachel Marie Stone (May 1) Marlena Graves: This reflection on Robinson's talk at the 2011 Festival of Faith and Writing is beautifully written. I can chew on this line for a long time: 'Fear … shuts down creativity and the capacity for imaginative, loving identification with others, who, in fear, become perceived threats.' "
The Departure of Ann Curry and the Death of a Dream, by Jenni Catron, guest writer Katelyn Beaty: "Each of us has a dream. And each of us faces the reality that it may die. TV journalist Ann Curry watched her dream die upon her departure from The Today Show. In this post, Catron reminds us that our identity ultimately rests in our Creator and Redeemer, not in our accomplishments. And yet, God often restores our dreams to us for his own purposes. I valued Catron's biblical wisdom immensely."
