Rev. Amy Ziettlow

As a Midwesterner who grew up in Oklahoma in the 1980s, there is no reason that I should have had access to high quality, classical ballet training. Thanks to the Ballet Russe I did.

Although Balanchine dominates the 20th century scene of American ballet, for Midwesterners, the...

Is there a glimmer of mercy in the universe?

Dwelling in silence this morning in the ballet studio, I reflected on the 35 years I have called the ballet barre home. As I looked across the room my eye caught the image of one of my fellow classmates who recently...

Did your church, synagogue, house of prayer or temple celebrate hoodie Sunday yesterday?

I am a Caucasian, middle class, mom of three who is also a pastor, a high school youth group sponsor and a writer. I did not wear a hoodie to worship yesterday but I wish...

Time, like an ever rolling stream, soon bears us all away. We fly, forgotten, as a dream dies at the opening day. O God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come. Be Thou our guide while life shall last, and our eternal home. Time, Like an...

I love listening to life stories. As a hospice chaplain, I loved sitting with our patients and their loved ones engaging in what many hospice teams call "life review." When did you meet your spouse? When was Reggie born? What is your favorite holiday? When did you learn you were...

Based on the enthusiastic squeals of the teenagers in our church youth group, I read Suzanne Collins' "Hunger Games" trilogy. I received it at Christmas, and soon after New Year's I had devoured all three. When we find a good story, we almost feel held captive by the words. We...

Cookies to make, early school pick-up to remember, church programs to attend, presents for teachers to make, caroling to come, gumbo to roux, new shirts to iron, presents to wrap, letters to mail... As my to-do list increases and my tolerance for sugar plums decreases, I understand each year where...

"I was sleeping; don't know if we're in Iowa or Missouri. It all looks the same, caught between the cornfields and snow flurries, I haven't yet arrived, but I'm not just starting, I'm somewhere in between..." "Somewhere in Between" by Storyhill

I'm a sucker for a good travelogue....

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in times of trouble." --Psalm 46:1

I am currently in the throes of a research project called "Homeward Bound: How We Live When Our Parents Die." I spend most days listening to the stories of adults whose parent or parent-figure died...

"Yea, though I walk
through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil;
For You are with me;
Your rod and Your staff--
they comfort me..."
--Psalm 23:4

I went to see the movie "50/50"...

I know of few students who aspire to serve in end of life care. I sure didn't. If anyone had told me that I would spend the first decade of my professional life serving the dying and their families, as well as thinking, writing and talking about death and dying,...

I am a sucker for singing contest reality shows, but my hands-down favorite is The Sing-Off. The show premiered its third season last Monday and features acappella groups from across the country who arrange and sing their own versions of popular songs. They are then judged by...

I recently commented on Facebook that in 20 years I will be in my late 50s, caring for my elderly baby boomer parents, and trying to pay for the young adult aspirations of three children, who will hopefully aspire to college. I half joke about that future time now, but...

Jack Kevorkian died several months ago, in a hospital bed, hooked to machines, suffering from chronic illness, a frequent flier in the same hospital where he died. He could have ended his life prior to going to the hospital one last time, but he did not.

On...

Several months ago, I cleaned out the bedroom closet of my childhood home. The cleaning quickly morphed into a nostalgic walk down the road of now ancient communication methods. Granted there were no chiseled tablets or rotary phones, but my closet attests to my Gen X-ness. I am a person...

In my youth I was a ballet dancer. In recent years I have signed up for dance classes, and in my mind, I am capable of dancing at the same level and ability as my 18-year-old self. Sadly, my brain and my body have not kept in touch over the...

I noticed in the recent issue of a popular magazine that Prince William will not be wearing a wedding band.

I wondered, 'Is that odd?'

I started combing the Internet to find out and found a 2003 article by Vicki Howard that traces both the history...

I love the movie, Shawshank Redemption. I have watched it at least 10 times, though not in its entirety. Although I don't scan through the channels as much as I used to, if I see that it is playing I will stop what I am doing and join...

How do we respond to mass tragedy?

One example: Steven Tyler, Jenifer Lopez, Randy Jackson and Ryan Seacrest, the judges and host of American Idol, opened Tuesday night's show in somber darkness requesting that we purchase downloads of the night's songs from ITunes in order for a portion of those...

I love the drama and transformation of a home makeover show. No matter the episode or series, a common formula shapes each makeover. First, we meet the trusting homeowners, all smiles, seemingly ready and waiting anxiously for the gods of paint and design to descend upon their home. And then...