In 2010, I felt an urge to write. The pen and well-worn journal pages were the recipients of questions, thoughts, musings, and quotes from role models. This led to developing a blog as a space to foster community around the intersections of faith and social justice. In turn, this has merged into larger conversations- as writing has its own way of doing-about equity, sport, poetry, education, and health. Please explore the other tabs depending on which topic above is most of interest to you. Additionally, if you identify as a woman or girl, I encourage you to check out Letters to Future Sisters of the World, a project in which I’m collecting letters from women and girls across the world sharing our stories on what being a woman or girl in our community means, while sharing our dreams for future generations of women and girls.
Together in justice and equity,
Melissa Otterbein
Melissa is a researcher, writer, educator, coach, and triathlete. A Certified Health Educator Specialist, she serves on the Editoral Board of Journal of Emerging Sport Studies and is a USA Triathlon Level I Coach. She welcomes your comments at melissaotterbein at gmail.com
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Melissa Otterbein 
You are amazing! Thank you for your voice on the blogosphere. 🙂
Thanks, Karen! I’m excited to read more of your posts- digging the topics you write about!
Melissa, yours is one of the first blogs I followed and I always enjoy your reflections. Because of that I have nominated you for a Liebster Award. You can find details about the challenge here: http://faithfamilyandfocaccia.com/2014/05/10/liebster-award/. I hope you enjoy reflecting on the questions.
Thanks, Serena! What a neat opportunity to connect with other bloggers! I enjoyed reading others’ responses to questions and look forward to checking out the other questions 🙂
Melissa,
This blog about being “uprooted” really helps me understand where I am in life right now. Thank you for writing it. Married 29, family concert ministry, former fundamental pastor, yet I am seeing seeing my God and His word with new eyes as I come to terms with a life time struggle with my gender. I told my wife and kids of my life long struggle three years ago, but over these three years I have found my beliefs and needs crossing paths with my family, so I am now making plans to tell them that I will be transitioning from male to female. Add to that the internal struggle that you have described so well as I too find myself doctrinally “uprooted.” I feel more and more out of place in the fundamental world that I am in, and worry that I may never find another place of ministry as a transgender woman. I also am not looking forward to the inevitable conversations with those who will want to help me see my sin, and error of my ways. I simply feel lost,”uprooted,” and sometimes wish I could go back to where I believed what everyone else does, or maybe I could just hide what I believe and not change anything, but neither option is open to me.
Luann
Loved your Down’s Syndrome sister story. Made me cry.
Jewel
AT hiker lady who you assisted on the trail
Thank you, Jewel! Missing you and grateful for our connection!