Sonya Schryer Norris

Scout

This week we opened our hearts and our home to a taffy colored male kitten we named Scout. He was part of a litter from a feral mama fostered by a woman here in Lansing. She watched over them, handled them and got them adoptable, and at the age of 8 weeks we picked oneContinueContinue reading “Scout”

#LivingVicariously, or, an Update on Seeing a Spiritual Advisor for the Past Six Months

What seriously sparks the interest of two middle aged Muslim converts for whom religion is a central drama of life?: Seeing a spiritual advisor. Mariko texted me asking for updates on my experience with this when I began it. #LivingVicariously. I met JMD professionally last fall when I visited The Hermitage, a retreat center knownContinueContinue reading “#LivingVicariously, or, an Update on Seeing a Spiritual Advisor for the Past Six Months”

Ramadan 2019: V: Eid: And Thoughts about Gratitude

Eid, which began June 4 this year, is the three-day celebration that ends the month of Ramadan. I’m straddling two competing emotions right now: the resentment I mentioned last week that I really want to let go of, and gratitude, which seems to me to be the perfect antidote. Let’s go all-in for gratitude forContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: V: Eid: And Thoughts about Gratitude”

I’m published!

I am excited to report that a personal essay I wrote has been picked up by The Other Journal out of the Seattle School of Theology and Psychology. It’s called: Striving for the Divine: An American Convert’s Early Years in Islam. It’s my conversion memoir, telling the story of my first year in Islam whenContinueContinue reading “I’m published!”

Ramadan 2019: IV: TMI, Lesser-Known Facts about This Month, and a Prayer Request

Normally, I keep my Ramadan posts uber spiritual, and if I don’t have anything nice to say, I don’t say anything at all. This post is a harder look at Ramadan and its traditions. Also, it’s a request for prayer. As you know, my cat Bethesda died this week. I stopped fasting for a fewContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: IV: TMI, Lesser-Known Facts about This Month, and a Prayer Request”

Rest in Peace Bethesda

Sonya and BethesdaThis week we gave our beloved cat Bethesda a good death with a visiting hospice vet. Bethesda was 19, and suffering from both kidney disease and suspected GI cancer. Her last days were full of cuddles, treats, and tuna fish. We will memorialize her with a set of long chimes (the kind thatContinueContinue reading “Rest in Peace Bethesda”

Ramadan 2019: III: Getting Closer to God

During past Ramadans, the only thing that mattered to me was an emotional connection to God. A good day of fasting was a day I felt close to God. If I didn’t feel an intense emotional reward, I was bereft. I actually felt punished. I didn’t know that there was another way to evaluate aContinueContinue reading “Ramadan 2019: III: Getting Closer to God”