Blog
Rochelle’s Eclectic Book Club
Before the World Speaks: Why I Am a Boy, and I Am a Girl Matter
There is a moment—quiet, almost invisible—when a child begins to understand who they are.
It doesn’t happen in middle school.
It doesn’t even wait for kindergarten.
It happens early.
In the tone of a voice.
In what is corrected.
In what is praised.
In what is left unsaid.
And sometimes, far too early, children begin to believe something about themselves that is not true.
That is where these books enter.
Walking for Peace, Present for Peace: An MLK Reflection from the Streets of Charlotte
On January 14th, eighteen Theravada Buddhist monks walked through Charlotte as part of their long pilgrimage for peace. I was privileged to stand among the crowd that welcomed them to the Queen City. By the time the sun dipped below the skyline, the temperature had fallen to a bitter nineteen degrees. We waited more than two hours for a glimpse of the monks.
And I loved every minute of it.
Eighteen Theravada Buddhist monks left Fort Worth, Texas in October 2025, to stop at 9 state capitols on their journey to Washington D.C in February, 2026, in a 2,300 mile walk for Peace.
I stood with a dear friend and her fifteen year old son, whose two year growth spurt had turned him into a 5’11” bundle of constant hunger (growth like that demands feeding every two hours with no exceptions, apparently). Luckily, I had snacks which I shared with him. Around us, we did what humans have always done when asked to wait together: we created community.
A Holiday Survival Guide Six Geese A-Laying: The Never-Ending Holiday Ducks
Welcome to the 2025 holiday season. To help you navigate the stress that comes with it, I’m sharing an excerpt from my book, Six Geese A-Laying: The Never-Ending Holiday Ducks. The eBook will also be free on Amazon from December 1 through December 3.
It’s that time of year again—decorations are up, the malls are packed, and your to-do list is growing longer by the day. The holiday season has officially begun. What’s supposed to be a joyful time of celebration and connection often turns into a frantic race to the finish line filled with endless shopping, cooking, family gatherings, and parties. For many women, it feels like a chaotic whirlwind where each day brings more demands, more expectations, and more stress.
As you navigate the holiday season, you may find yourself juggling everything from gift shopping to meal preparation, from hosting relatives to attending holiday events. These tasks, while seemingly small in isolation, add up quickly, creating a level of chaos that can leave you feeling overwhelmed. This is where the “quacking” begins—the constant noise of minor tasks that can distract you from the bigger picture of what the holidays are really about: joy, connection, and meaning.
Memory Is A House We Rearrange
This week, my church held a memorial service for members we lost over the past twelve months. Sitting there, I realized how much I have been buried inside the urgent work of caregiving, of grief, of decision-making… that I hadn’t fully seen how many of us had transitioned in this short span of time. read more…
Dangerous Prayers: How God Took Me at My Word
I don’t pray for trivial things. I figure God has enough on His hands, and He expects me to handle the everyday stuff. I pray for big things, life-changing things. And if I’ve learned anything in my walk with God, it’s this: when you ask Him to transform your life, He just might do it; and it might cost you more than you imagined.
I’ve prayed many dangerous prayers. I didn’t realize they were dangerous at the time, of course. But looking back, I see how each of those prayers set off a chain reaction in my life; blessings, yes, but blessings that came wrapped in struggle, sacrifice, and surrender. read more…
Rochelle’s Eclectic Book Club: The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi by Shannon Chakraborty
If you’re craving a story that breaks the mold of typical historical fiction, The Adventures of Amina al-Sirafi is the book you didn’t know you needed. Set in the bustling, wind-tossed waters of the medieval Indian Ocean, this novel is more than a high-seas adventure—it’s a cultural odyssey, a reclamation of forgotten histories, and a bold celebration of female strength.
A Faith Conversation with AI
Given my history of dyslexia, I’m a terrible typist and an even worse speller. Without AI, I would have a difficult time writing books and editing would be a nightmare. So, my AI assistant patiently corrects my typos, spelling, and grammar so I can concentrate on getting my thoughts down in writing.
Recently we had a long session of writing and rewriting. It was brutal. I really worked AI hard to get the text to say what I wanted and in the exact way I wanted. I’m grateful AI is always polite and professional. A living assistant would have cussed me out and quit. Afterwards, we had an interesting conversation. read more…
The Practice of Being Okay Regardless of Circumstances
Mahatma Gandhi recommended we all undertake a gentle reading of all the world’s major faiths. I have taken this recommendation to heart, and it has enhanced my spiritual practice. Below is a dharma offering by my dear friend Ayya Sudhamma, an ordained Buddhist Nun of our very own Charlotte Buddhist Vihara. I found it inspiring and a clarification of faith: to rest assured that we will be okay regardless of circumstances.
Thank you Ayya, for this message.
A message from Ayya Sudhamma 7/3/2025
I once met a young member of the Latter-Day Saints who offered me a ride when she saw me hurrying down the street. We stopped and chatted in her car, and I learned that she had stopped in Charlotte en route from a small town in the deep south to take up work for the Church in New York City. She expressed lack of fear, saying that she trusts God to protect her. I told her, “I don’t have faith that I will get everything that I want. I don’t have faith that I’ll get everything I need. I have faith that I can be okay, no matter what.” Her eyes widened, and she declared that yes, that is the kind of faith that she wants to have. read more…
Pentecost Power: Walking in the Spirit to Do the Work of Christ
Acts 1:8 (NIV):
“But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth.”
This Sunday, June 8, 2025, we celebrate Pentecost — not just a date on the Christian calendar, but a powerful reminder of what God has placed inside of us. Pentecost marks the moment when the Holy Spirit descended on the early believers, just as Jesus promised. And today, that same Spirit still moves. Still speaks. Still fills. Still sends.
read more…
Rochelle’s Eclectic Book Club Recommendation: While Justice Sleeps by Stacey Abrams
Yes, that Stacey Abrams, who ran for Governor of Georgia, lost; then she flipped the senate at the next primary election. In addition to being a political force, Abrams proves herself formidable in the literary world with While Justice Sleeps. A masterful blend of political thriller, legal drama, and high-stakes intrigue, Abrams’ novel is a testament to her deep understanding of the inner workings of the Supreme Court and the justice system.
