Kathie Kurtz grew up in a close Mennonite community that offered a rich life but did not completely satisfy her. While Mennonites were not as separated from mainstream culture as the Amish, Kathie still felt distinctly different in both visible and invisible ways. As a child she accepted the Mennonite tradition, but privately imagined herself in a wider world that sparkled beyond the boundaries of her ordinary life. She judged herself for wanting “unimportant” things rather than being focused on the needs of the world. At times she would question how of all people in the world, only the Mennonite beliefs were right ones. Over time, she learned to trust her own internal voice as a guide to authentic living. She said, "I came to realize that I didn’t need to choose one world or the other. I could choose what was of value in my tradition and what enriched me from the larger world, shaping life from that mix." Kathie believes that creativity is born in the tension between polarities, and even though living in that space continues to challenge her, it is the place where she finds vibrancy and joy. 

Kathie Kurtz, DMin, is a retired Mennonite pastoral counselor who lives with her husband in Harrisonburg, Virginia near where she grew up. She is the author of The Blistering Morning Mist: a Memoir (Wipf and Stock, 2021) In addition to writing, she enjoys gardening, pottery, cooking, baking, reading, and spending time with family and friends For more about her go to kathiesblog.com