The Third Sunday in Advent 2016
On this third Sunday in Advent the skies were gray. No sun brightened or flashed a sparkle upon the unremitting snowfall. In contrast to the dimness of the day, our Advent candles and early Christmas lights shone with life. Casting multiple reflections upon the cold window glass, their little bits of warm light sent a glowing radiance into our eyes. The entire day became a picture of Jesus Advent for it is written that He came . . .
The Second Sunday in Advent 2016
Today we lit the Second Advent candle. Yesterday, in a holiday mood, I pulled out our Christmas music, about twenty-five CD’s, several almost that old. Once again I thought, “This year maybe I’ll play them all and separate the duds from the keepers.” We listen to our family’s favorites over and over again; it’s an […]
The First Sunday in Advent 2016
Early this morning, still in my bathrobe and slipper-socks, I walked out on the frost white ground to cut branches from an evergreen for our Advent Wreath. Today we light the first candle and officially begin to get excited about Christmas. Preparing for that moment, I began to think about why we celebrate Advent . . .
Primary Election Thoughts
Neither party gives more than lip service to the values of large sections of American voters. And many voters don’t seem to care. After living through eighteen elections, it feels smashingly irregular to watch masses of voters swaying and clapping to rhetoric and propaganda on both sides. It’s scary. Going to vote last week felt urgently important, but I didn’t know how to vote. I wasn’t sure any candidate was qualified.
Divisions? Or Revived in Love?
Church Conflicts At times church conflicts are symptoms of buried personal pain seeping out sideways. For example, a friend of mine was abused in childhood. She grew up to mistrust all male authority figures. She challenged all male pastors. The husband of another friend was misogynistic; he was also a divinity school graduate whose issues had wrecked his […]
TAILING: Respect for One Another’s Safe Space
A friend said younger men don’t care and won’t read this because “everyone” knows that drivers are jerks these days. It’s a boring topic! And an over worked one too. He said my comments are outdated partly because of today’s well-made cars and seatbelts.
Christmas 2015
2015 has been a good year—filled with joys both familiar and unforeseen. Outside our window we’ve heard the calls of sand hill cranes, the chorus of frogs, and the wind moving through the nearby oaks and hickories;
Divergent Thinking
Resting in the presence of God frees the mind to play, wander, explore. Contemplating total Otherness is mysterious. It spawns worship, healing, relationship, art, and sometimes, thought. The following ideas about creation/evolution surfaced in a quiet time—one set aside to rest in God.
Face Off With Fear
Fear is sweeping our country like a pandemic contaminating us with disease, like a shadow intimidating our globe with its darkness. To survive whole, we must face each fear head on—and overcome.
