Never forget. After 20 years, it’s fitting that we once again remind ourselves to remember. The significance of that awful Tuesday—of its destructive terror and its heroic bravery—demands an enduring place in our collective consciousness. The only thing more tragic than the events themselves would be the mistake of letting them slip into the oblivion... Continue Reading →
How did you get here? What glitch in the GPS accounts for this increasingly twisted route that once seemed so direct and predictable? You’re not quite sure where you are, but wherever it is, it’s nowhere on the map. At least not on the map you were given back when the journey began. Back when... Continue Reading →
Spiritual leaders are given access to the areas of life that people hold most sacred, the parts of themselves that most intimately define who they are. They aren’t just institutional decision-makers; they’re teachers, guides, counselors, examples. And nobody can do that sort of work without leaving a deep and lasting impact on other people. Sometimes... Continue Reading →
It's that time of year again. Time to look back and reflect on the books that I most enjoyed reading. And during this most discouraging of years, I'm perhaps more grateful than ever for the sanity-restoring diversion of getting lost in a book.
How do we actually deal with the ugly parts of our shared history, as opposed to just erasing them?
If good theology doesn’t propel us into the world to be agents of justice, mercy, and renewal, then what’s it good for?
Officiating funerals is never an easy gig for us clergy types. And when the funeral is for someone we’ve never met? Well that certainly doesn’t make the job any easier. I’ll never forget the memorial service I was leading a few years ago for a young woman who had died tragically and unexpectedly. I didn’t... Continue Reading →
The year's nearly over, and in retrospect one of my many failures during 2019 has been keeping this humble little website updated with fresh content. (Four posts in the span of twelve months isn't exactly prolific.) But I refuse to let my negligence kill off one of my favorite annual traditions: sharing the books I... Continue Reading →
Have you ever noticed the trees for sale at your local nursery, most of which aren’t yet tall enough to reach your shoulder? If so, you know that their roots are compactly housed within small pots of soil not much bigger around than a basketball. As long as the trees are of such diminutive stature,... Continue Reading →
Imagine a woman who rules over an entire nation. From her position of authority she carries out her duties as a spiritual leader, an interpersonal mediator, and a military strategist. Her proficient exercise of power has earned her the respect of the entire nation. The commanders who take orders from her trust in her discernment... Continue Reading →
