AuthorChristina Chase

Although crippled by disease, I'm fully alive in love. I write about the terrible beauty and sacred wonder of life, while living with physical disability and severe dependency. A revert to the Catholic faith through atheism, I'm not afraid to ask life's big questions. I explore what it means to be fully human through my weekly blog and have written a book: It's Good to Be Here, published by Sophia Institute Press.

Posted October 21, 20213 Comments life and death

Through

There’s thunder and lightning, bombings and gunfire, and I’m abandoned in the dark — horrifically alone. At any moment I could be obliterated, searing explosions invading my mind so I … Continue Reading Through

Posted October 7, 2021 biographical

Unborn

We all begin in mystery. When I was smaller than the period at the end of this sentence, my life’s story began. All that I cosmically and genetically am was … Continue Reading Unborn

Posted September 30, 20216 Comments biographical

The Best Laid Plans: Memoir Update

“The best laid plans of Mice and Men often go awry,” so says the poet Robert Burns,[i] with whom I heartily agree. The plan I laid at April’s ending had … Continue Reading The Best Laid Plans: Memoir Update

close-up of pear tree in the morning sun

Posted September 16, 20212 Comments poetry

Blighted

“The blight’s takin’ her slow, limb by limb,” said the man with the saw, flanneled arms crossed, looking at the pear tree with its hard and gnarled fruit, some naked, … Continue Reading Blighted

Posted September 2, 202111 Comments biographical

Poster Child

It’s that time a year again. Another Labor Day is coming, a time when I have tended, for most of my life, to reflect upon my own reflection, to look … Continue Reading Poster Child

Posted August 19, 20216 Comments poetry

Who You Are

What words cannot tell nor images show… No fragrance, no strain of music, no touch can hold on to what I know… You… You, my Lord… You. With that little … Continue Reading Who You Are

Posted August 5, 2021 art, literature, music

Unknowing Worship

While watching the feats of the athletes in the Tokyo Olympics, this post (from 2017, one of my favorites) seems like a fitting reflection to share again… You have heard … Continue Reading Unknowing Worship

blank book denoting the absence of progress on writing my memoir

Posted July 30, 20218 Comments biographical

Progress on My Memoir

This isn’t working. On the fifth Thursday of July, I was supposed to be giving a progress report on the writing of my latest book. But I really don’t have … Continue Reading Progress on My Memoir

Posted July 15, 20214 Comments poetry

Rooted

Rooted. A nice way of saying “stuck.” This tree is stuck, it cannot move unless a force shall blow, or chop, it down dead. Never roaming to distant lands, or … Continue Reading Rooted

Posted July 1, 202111 Comments in the world

Freedom and Fear

Does being free mean that we have no guidelines, no limitations, no grounding? But isn’t it the truth that sets us free? The truth is that I can do nothing … Continue Reading Freedom and Fear

Posted June 17, 20213 Comments biographical

Real Men Stay

I should be dead, but I’m not. I should be a forty something-year-old in a nursing home, but I’m not. I should be miserable, but I’m not. Why? The reason … Continue Reading Real Men Stay

Posted June 3, 202110 Comments poetry

Patient

Note the patience of a violet who, when heavy with bee, droops and bows and nearly breaks, as the strange creature bumbles deep within; brought low to the ground, she … Continue Reading Patient

Posted May 20, 20214 Comments doctrine

There’s Something about Mary

There sure are a lot of titles for Mary, the mother of Jesus — more than I can list, or even know and remember. Virgin Mary. Blessed Mother. Our Lady. … Continue Reading There’s Something about Mary

Posted May 6, 202113 Comments poetry

Ode to My Mother

Who was my mother before she was my mother? A little poem from the archives to celebrate Mother’s Day. I love you, Mama! Within Her Hands Within her hands, now … Continue Reading Ode to My Mother

an empty billboard symbolizing a blank canvas or empty page

Posted April 29, 20219 Comments biographical

Writing a Memoir?

Recently, my sister said to me, “If your songs aren’t getting as much air time on the radio, it’s time to release another album.” Point taken. After a whirlwind of … Continue Reading Writing a Memoir?

Posted April 22, 2021 art, literature, music

Earth Day: Rocky Mountain High

One morning, as he was taking care of me, my dad had John Denver’s song, Rocky Mountain High, in his head, so he asked our smart speaker to play it. … Continue Reading Earth Day: Rocky Mountain High