Bookish Life
The Selfish Giant, Attachment, and the Landscape of the Soul
The Selfish Giant, Attachment, and the Landscape of the Soul When I read Oscar Wilde’s The Selfish Giant, I didn’t expect to find myself in the Giant. But there I was—his anger, his loneliness, his long winter felt strangely familiar. The Giant built walls to protect what was his, and I realized I’ve done the same…
Read MoreHospitality Through Story: Teaching Kids to Love Their Neighbors
When Jesus told the story of the Good Samaritan, His listeners were shocked. The hero of the story wasn’t the religious leader or the respected citizen—it was the person they least expected. A neighbor who crossed cultural, religious, and social boundaries to show mercy. That’s the heart of hospitality: creating space for someone else, even…
Read MoreOctober Short Story Contest Theme Reveal: Light in the Darkness
Stories hold power because they capture turning points—the moments when shadows don’t get the last word, when hope flickers alive, and when light breaks into the darkest places. That’s why we’re so excited to announce the theme of this year’s Rooted Minds Short Story Contest: 🌟 Light in the Darkness 🌟 ✨ Theme Verse: John 1:5 — “The light shines…
Read MoreWhy We Need Both C. S. Lewis and James Baldwin
A few years ago, a little girl asked her mom, “Does God love boys more than girls?” Her question came after noticing that in her Bible storybook, girls were almost completely absent. From silence, she drew a conclusion about belonging. That one question has stayed with me because it reminds us how powerful stories are. They don’t…
Read MoreJoin our October Short Story Contest
The Beauty of Short Stories: Announcing Our October Writing Contest Short stories have a way of catching us off guard. They don’t take hundreds of pages to build a world or introduce a character—you’re invited in quickly, swept into a moment, and left changed by the end. They’re like windows that suddenly open and let…
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