I thank Thee, Mammon. I thank Thee because Thou hast bequeathed upon me such fecundity and blessing, And all Thou hast asked in return Is my time, my freedom, and my soul. ~ I praise Thee, Mammon. I praise Thee because Thou makest possible The accumulation and consumption of innumerable shiny, new, and useless […]
Category: Original Art
Good Friday and Other Misconceptions
By Amanda They (whoever “they” are) say that writing a book is a labor of love. Well, it’s labor. Having birthed two kids, there’s really no part of labor that I enjoyed. I know women who refuse drugs because they want to experience “the most quintessential female experience.” Ummm, I’ll take the drugs. On April […]
Lessons in Humanity from My Hippie Uncle
Words and Art by Amanda I credit my uncle with giving me a conscience regarding social issues. Before becoming Fundamentalists, my parents named him, my father’s brother and the only Democrat, hippie, vegetarian, nature loving, travel the world on foot, humanitarian, please-donate-to-Unicef-as-my-Christmas-present male in the family, as my godfather. I am eternally grateful for this […]
Art, Church and the Beauty of God
Words and Art by Amanda I always tell people that the church never taught me how beautiful God is. Growing up, I sat at the table of a very strict God who rationed out food based upon my performance. His grace was dished out in careful moderation, so as not to be abused, but earned. […]
On Cigars, Sacraments, and Simple Pleasures
(This is a short excerpt from my forthcoming novel, That’s Me in the Corner, spoken in the voice of the book’s protagonist, Brody Graham.) *** “So Brody, what is it with you and all your little rituals?” Caleb asked. “You prepare your coffee and smoke your cigar like you’re a priest presiding over some kind of […]
Objectification and the Lost Art of Women
(Words and Art by Amanda) When my son was about five, we were in an outdoor pottery store, one of those places that is a maze with thousands of items, plants, fountains, statues, forgotten treasures. I came around the corner and found him entranced, staring at a figurine of a primitive fertility goddess. It being more abstract […]