Carol Ghattas is a Tennessee native and MTSU graduate with a B.A. in History and French. She earned her M.Div. in Theology from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and served 20 years in North Africa and the Middle East with her late husband, Raouf. She is an author, speaker, and fluent in French and Arabic. She is Branch Librarian at Linebaugh Public Library in Murfreesboro, TN, and an active member of the Arabic Baptist Church.
Some things just throw you off in the grief walk, and even when it’s not as devastating as during the early days, you still feel it. Over a week ago, I switched phones. I liked my phone, but it was always getting full, so my sweet eldest son offered me his old one with lots … More One more lost tie
I was supposed to have a meeting at 5 p.m. and then rush to ESL class before 6:30, but I couldn’t figure out why no one was showing up for the meeting. Then I realized — it’s Valentine’s Day. They must have rescheduled and didn’t tell me. So, I had time to go home, feed … More This is Love
It’s been a day of contrasts. Much of my morning was spent with police officers and an unruly patron. My lunch was with a dear friend over tomato soup and quiche. My afternoon was caught up again with some of our regular patrons and a complaint aimed at a colleague, while my dinner was spent … More For and Against
Sometimes God has to get us out of our seats, because he’s got someone we need to meet. That happened to me today, an otherwise ordinary day. I’d been sitting at my desk too long, and felt the need to move. After checking on staff, I turned to go back toward my office, and there … More Eternity in your heart
I had a birthday last month which had me thinking about life, years, and, to be honest, mortality. Nothing like a birthday to give you a reality check. If birthdays haven’t done that for you, then you’re not old enough. Just sayin’. I am using Christmas and birthday cards this year to pray for the … More Counting Life
When I say the phrase “theme song,” what comes to mind? Maybe the tune to your favorite TV show or movie, or the song that is shared by you and your spouse? A theme song is like a brand — it defines and brings recognition to something or someone. The great songwriter David wrote in … More My theme song
I know when I write this question, people will interpret it in polar opposite ways, but I’m willing to take the chance. In 1933, Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote to his grandmother: The question is really: Christianity or Germanism? And the sooner the conflict is revealed in the clear light of day the better.* So, I sit … More The Question
Reading biographies and books on history not only remind us that there is nothing new under the sun, but helps us find courageous examples to follow in our present trying times. I find much to learn through the life of Dietrich Bonhoeffer, who watched and lived through the Nazi rise to power in the 1930s … More Walk the Talk
When grief first hits, it sucks the life out of you. You find it hard to breathe. As the days go on, sleep is lost, and you live in a fog. It’s hard to believe you’re able to get through one day, much less another, and then, all of a sudden, a month has passed … More Humming
It’s been a busy week of interviews at the library. With a couple of positions open, I’ve interviewed about eight different people. When I say different, I mean different, unique, interesting. You learn a lot about human nature when you ask the same question to more than one person. Each one brings their own background, … More Making an impression
