Articles written by Jessica Kuzmier

What is Helium

About me - Jessica Kuzmier

For several years, I ran a nonfiction ezine called First Church of the Streets. The idea was that the sacred and the profane are intertwined. For the most part, I write about social issues, hiking, travel, and occasionally, religion.

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Creative Writing > Memoirs Good-bye: True gardening stories relating to love, life and gardening: 8 of 272

Nature has a funny way of teaching lessons, it seems. Recently I received some instruction in this, although I was too thick in my human ways to realize this was the class I was taking. But that is also a lesson: too wrapped up in my plans to see past them, needing to have it all swept away for me to realize how little my d... More..
Politics, News & Issues > News (Other) Child slavery and trafficking humans for sex: 1 of 25
Imagine being so poor that you are willing to do anything for money. Imagine being in a circumstance so dire, that if a person comes handing you money, you are willing to sell them your friend or relative as a commodity for barter. Your friend or relative is most likely a female, and from there, the work that your friend or r... More..
Creative Writing > Reflections Reflections: Looking at the world through a car window: 1 of 24

I sat in the passenger seat of the Chevy van, a place which had sat on and off for the last fourteen and a half years. Humidity was building up in this early hot summer morning. In that steam, a drop of water crawled down the windshield, like a teardrop. In the state of mind that I was in, it seemed as though the van was cry... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Christian Beliefs & Culture Putting God first in your life: 5 of 114

To be focused on a goal is a good thing. Put your energies into something, make a plan, and go forward. All major achievements in the world, be it any advance in civilization, transportation, culture, or medicine needed some kind of plan and focus for the endeavor to go through. Many experts now lament the lack of focus that ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > Party Politics & Ideology Role of faith in politics: 2 of 42
The debate of the role of faith in politics has become a facet of American culture. One may even wonder if God and politics can coexist in peace in the American landscape. What does the Constitution say, and does it make a difference what it says if the people want something different? The question of unity through diversity ... More..
Politics, News & Issues > US Politics (Other) Human rights issues in the US: 1 of 17

Human rights in the United States has been a somewhat controversial subject over the years. One might think that a country that was founded on breaking away from the tyranny of monarchy, seeking justice and liberty for all, would naturally be a bastion of human rights for all people. But the history of this democracy has sh... More..
Religion & Spirituality > Religious Speculations & Criticisms Is religion a false sense of security: 1 of 17
Abraham Heschel, the Jewish philosopher, questions what role religion has in a post-modernist society. He states that in life, man has become too concerned with comfort, looking for religion to fit his needs rather than the other way around. Religion, in turn, looks to fit the needs of the customer, and becomes the servant th... More..
Society & Lifestyle > Social Values & Norms How to resolve social conflicts: 1 of 16
Dealing with social conflict is one of the most essential jobs in our civilization. Without remedying the invariable dissension that is apt to come up amongst people with differing tastes and needs, no issue can be resolved, no project completed. No matter how much one may consider himself or herself a lone ranger, all people... More..
Travel > Vacations Defining and enjoying the summer "staycation": 1 of 10

The stock market goes up, the stock market goes down. Same with gas prices, food and everything else. It's hard to know how to plan your family vacation on a budget when everything financial seems to be built on sand. Fortunately, the staycation can help save both family fun and the family dollar. Learning how to h... More..
Creative Writing > Memoirs Testimonies: My holiday vacation in the mountains: 5 of 32

The sign read, "A short walk on this easy trail offers close-up views, subtle aromas, and the serene quiet of a protected woodland. You will be walking in one of the last great wildernesses in the East, but you won't need a backpack or hiking boots. Have a seat on a rock or a log bench. The trail has no particular destinati... More..