Shemaiah Gonzalez

Shemaiah Gonzalez is a freelance writer who holds a B.A. in English Literature and a M.A. in Intercultural Ministry. She thrives on moments where storytelling, art, and faith collide. Published on Busted Halo and America Magazine among others, she is obsessed with being well-rounded as she jumps from Victorian lit to Kendrick Lamar, from the homeless shelter to the cocktail party. A Los Angeles native, she now lives in Seattle with her husband and their two sons.

Fearless

I was 3 ½ years old when my father taught me my first Bible verse—in the King James version. Maybe he liked the sound of Elizabethan English coming out...

Looking Through the Lens of Joy

I’m one of those people who prays that God will reveal a word for me to meditate on for the next year. One year, not too long ago, on...

Christmas Storytelling

One of my favorite Christmas pastimes is storytelling. Truth be told, I like to tell stories all year long, but Christmas just lends itself easily to storytelling. We remember...

Getting in Shape

I am not a sporty person. Bookish—yes. The kind of person who sings to musicals—yes. I was the kid with asthma and the one for whom just standing on...

Choosing Joy

Once we know we are loved, it is easy to choose joy. This is what Father Greg Boyle, SJ, learned as he has ministered to ex-gang members in Los Angeles....

No Guarantees

Each week, my junior high-school math teacher had us write a note to ourselves at the top of our class notebooks. Dear Me, Lord willing, Test on Friday. Every instruction about the future...