Author Archives
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I Am Her by Karen Leslie Hernandez
I hear this a lot: “You’re Mexican? You don’t look it?” A friend I have had for over 40 years always says, “I don’t think of you that way.” I am never quite sure how to respond to these opinions…. Read More ›
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If I Don’t Care, Then, Who Will? by Karen Leslie Hernandez
What are we going to do with this world that’s on fire right now? I continually ask myself what my role is on this beautiful blue planet – what am I supposed to really do? What am I going to… Read More ›
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A Lament by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Dear World. You are On fire. Why Do you condone Time And time Again The guns The hate The greed The violence The oppression. Why do you not speak For all.
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Compassion to the Why by Karen Leslie Hernandez
This last month, I’ve found myself doing work on what I call, Compassion to the Why. That is understanding why. Asking why. Getting why. Having compassion, for, why. Why is this important, you ask? Because getting to the ‘why,’ is… Read More ›
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What’s Your Choice? by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Choices. Many times choices are difficult. Some of the time choices are easy. I have had a rough year. Probably one of the most difficult yet in my adult life. I began this year with an offer of a job,… Read More ›
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Compassion. Simply Be. by Karen Leslie Hernandez
From November 1-7, I attended the Parliament of the World’s Religions in Toronto, Canada. With a myriad of religions and spiritual traditions represented, this was my third Parliament. Inspiring people from all over the planet gathered to teach, to listen,… Read More ›
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Listen more. Talk Less. Tread Lightly. By Karen Leslie Hernandez
Illegal. Nazi. Migrant. Refugee. N****r. Terrorist. Heard of read any of these descriptions recently? I have. A lot. It seems that now more than ever, communication is breaking down. Name calling and labeling – which many times incites violence –… Read More ›
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In These Dark Times, a Bit of Goodness in the World by Karen Leslie Hernandez
In my almost 52 years, I feel as if this is the darkest time we have ever witnessed. I don’t need to name it all here, because we know. I, like many of us, am struggling. Struggling to make sense… Read More ›
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I Dated an American Sniper by Karen Leslie Hernandez
“Happy Memorial Day!” Did you hear that this past Monday? I find this “celebration” confusing. Memorial Day isn’t a celebration, it’s a remembrance. It’s about more than BBQ’s and parades. It’s about honoring those who’ve died while serving our country…. Read More ›
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The Least of These, Are the Most of Us by Karen Leslie Hernandez
I’ve recently found myself in one of the most disadvantaged neighborhoods in San Francisco, helping provide over 2000 meals a day to those in need. Let me reiterate that number… 2000+ meals. A day. Not only does this number illustrate… Read More ›
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Ever Wonder Why? By Karen Leslie Hernandez
Note: This piece contains mention of violence, stabbings, shootings and death. I’ve had a lifetime of wondering Why? Have you? This last month has left me asking Why? a lot more than usual, especially after the Majory Stoneman Douglas High School… Read More ›
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Is God Breathing? by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Another mass shooting. Syria. #MeToo. Hunger. Animal extinction. Iraq. Climate change. Deportation. Slavery. Central African Republic. Hate crimes. Rape. Animal cruelty. Oppression. Accidental nuclear war alerts. Homeless encampments. “Illegal immigrants.” Afghanistan. More mass shootings. Sex robots. Trafficking. Russian bots. Racism…. Read More ›
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Elie Wiesel Never Grabbed My Ass by Karen Leslie Hernandez
The #metoo campaign is empowering. I am enthralled (albeit sorrowful at the suffering), with the fact that thousands of women are bringing attention to the normalcy of sexual harassment and sexual assault. Yet, two months ago, my elation was squashed…. Read More ›
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Radical Inclusivity – Just Go ‘Inside’ – by Karen Leslie Hernandez
I am a firm believer of experiencing that which you don’t understand, so then, you can understand. Reading a book is one thing. Stepping into that which you wonder about, is another. With that philosophy, I have found myself in… Read More ›
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On Being – The Whirlies of Life by Karen Leslie Hernandez
On being. Whenever I see this phrase, it challenges me. Why? I’m not sure. It could be because I feel I am not living up to my full potential. Or, because this last year, especially, has been a very rough… Read More ›
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In This Fractured World, I Will Not Remain Silent by Karen Leslie Hernandez
The recent killing of 17 year old Nabra Hassanen is on my mind. Not only was she killed—brutally beaten with a baseball bat—but it is thought that she was raped, too. Twice. During Ramadan. By an undocumented Latino from El… Read More ›
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It’s About More Than Just The Ariana Grande Concert by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Manchester. It’s not just about this one act of violence. It is horrific, there is no doubt, and I am in no way belittling this act of terror, but, I am always perplexed when these things happen, and how it… Read More ›
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Radical Grace: Is it Possible? by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Trigger Warning: Domestic violence accounts This Lenten season I am focusing on grace. And gosh, is it difficult. Have you ever tried to practice grace in everything you do? And I mean, everything. Almost impossible, right? Triggers everywhere, right? I… Read More ›
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What is the Most Dangerous Breed? by Karen Leslie Hernandez
As I wrote in November, I am currently working at the San Francisco SPCA. I took the job to bring something different in to my life as I do the heavy work involved with my Doctor of Ministry. I LOVE… Read More ›
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Outraged? Yes, I Am! by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Readers, please note: this post includes accounts of rape and violence agianst women and quotes distrubing statements of assault made by Donald Trump. These are easily identifiable by the use of italics or as indented, quoted text. Of course I’m… Read More ›
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Honoring Each Other – A Conspiracy of Need by Karen Leslie Hernandez
It feels we’ve had a lot of loss this year. Loss of over 5000 to the Mediterranean Sea. Loss of beloved singers and performers. Loss of family members and friends. Loss of world leaders. Loss of authors. 2016 feels like… Read More ›
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A Small Glimpse Into God’s Creation, In a Window by Karen Leslie Hernandez
Windows. We have windows everywhere. In our homes, stores, cars, buildings, our souls. Windows allow us to see in, see out, and reflect. We see ourselves, others, creation. This Autumn, I began a new job at the San Francisco SPCA,… Read More ›
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It’s Domestic Violence Awareness Month – So, Do Something by Karen Leslie Hernandez
October is National Domestic Violence Awareness month. By the end of this month, approximately 93 women will have died at the hands of their partners and about 150 children will have died at the hands of their parents. And that… Read More ›
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A Test of Faith – Did I pass? by Karen Leslie Hernandez
More often than not, I think our faith is tested in ways that we can’t understand, personally, professionally, on a large and on a small scale. I’m realizing, as the years pass, that there’s no perfect way to handle challenges,… Read More ›
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I’m Stumped by Karen Leslie Hernandez
I’m stumped. We’ve all seen and heard what Donald Trump has said in the public sphere… “If Ivanka weren’t my daughter, I’d be dating her.” “… a total and complete shutdown of Muslims entering the United States.” “When Mexico sends… Read More ›
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Today, I am 50. And I Know Jack-Diddly Squat by Karen Leslie Hernandez
You’d think after all these years I would know, right? I would be sure. I could walk comfortably, touting that I am certain, as so many others my age do. The reality is however, I still don’t know. I am… Read More ›
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A Crisis of Faith-We’re Not Listening by Karen Hernandez
Orlando. Syria. Sandy Hook. Belgium. Somalia. Ethiopia. Venezuela. Paris. After the shooting in Orlando I was numb. In fact, every time a mass shooting occurs now, I am numb. I think we all feel that way, but we all handle… Read More ›
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I am a Suicide Attempt Survivor by Karen Leslie Hernandez
In the past year, I have several friends that have lost loved ones to suicide. The statistics are real, raw and all too sobering. In the United States, an average of 117 people choose to end their lives every day…. Read More ›
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Birth Matters by Karen Leslie Hernandez
I don’t talk much about giving birth, but when I do talk about the birth of my daughter and I give details, I am met almost assuredly with looks of disbelief and outright contempt for my birthing experience. In that,… Read More ›
