Abbye West Pates

When I first started running about 8 or so years ago, I worked up to a place where I could run a 10k (6.2 miles) without stopping to walk. Now, though, I find that a run/walk combo on most of…

I just released a 6-song collection of hymns that I'm really proud of. Listen here. I hope you like them!

Musically speaking, I've sometimes described myself as living in two worlds: the singer-songwriter americana-ish world and the worship…

This morning I recalled a line from a hymn (one I've tried to re-work for some time now), "There's a wideness in God's mercy/like the wideness of the sea." I love that. It stirs my imagination. For me, it takes…

If you saw the acoustic iPhone video of my unreleased song, Different Like Me, over on Instagram or Facebook, you'll find the lyrics here. I don't have much to say about the song; perhaps it can speak for itself. 

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One month ago, in June, I released a new song called Long Year. And then I wrote this poem. I hope you like them both.

Love is always becoming. What it becomes remains to be seen, depends on the work,…

A friend of mine recently experienced the deep darkness of loss, where someone died whom she loved dearly. She was young, the death was unexpected and quick. Tragic. 

My friend and I exchanged text messages as we watched…

If you're reading this, you probably know that I host a weekly Facebook Live from my living room. Or dining room. Or from the side of the road in the middle of Virginia. You can see today's live video…

I'm in a season of working to get the word out, educate and build a network of friends and fans and friends of fans (and friends of fans' friends friends... wait, what?) who are wiling to host a house concert…

In three weeks, my nephew Elijah will be 10 years old. He is a ghostbuster. Nevermind that he couldn't find a proton pack; he came up with the plans to build his own (which, actually, Uncle Jeff mostly built himself…

Yesterday was difficult. The day was sunny and crisp, just like an Autumn day should be. The sky was blue and the leaves are bursting into color. The zinnias are still blooming because they can survive in the in-between, still…

If you want to write then guess what? You have to write. You have to pick up a pencil, open your laptop, silence your cellphone, park your butt in a chair, do whatever it takes to get yourself there. And…

Over the last several days, I've not been conscious of my "no criticism" challenge. Not surprisingly this struck me last night while I was criticizing something (though Jeff told me he thought it was more of a constructive criticism conversation…