What does glitter have to do with God?

During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

During that vacation, in two final conversations with my grandmother before her death, when words were hard and fraught, I found comfort in the words of Jesus. In the gospels, Jesus teaches us by his own example to pray. But he doesn’t leave us there. He also teaches us how to pray. And then, as if knowing that sometimes prayer is just too much: he gives us words to pray. Words that can carry us.

It seems everyone wants to be more authentic. Jesus points to a challenging counter-intuitive path with a surprising detour through denial.

Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.

Holy ground hurts. Sandals don’t stay on when you sprint. I didn’t expect actual flames.

I was grateful for Acts of Reconciliation resources provided by the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). My heart is hurting and my spirit is stirred by the cries of black and brown people who are facing the crushing weight of structural racism. And not only those who are featured in television interviews and news articles, but also those I know personally: friends, colleagues, and siblings in Christ. I'm listening. I'm learning. I'm praying. I'm sitting with the [...]

Growing up, "whiteness" was mostly invisible to me. I knew that I was white, that others were not, but I mostly didn't think about race. And if I'm honest, when I did think about it, it made me really uncomfortable. I quickly retreated to "colorblindness" (choosing not to see race, and pretending race had no impact on how I treated people). Maybe that's why I still remember when I was shocked by "whiteness"... it was when [...]

You might quickly realize where you are on the graph below. Perhaps it accurately describes your own roller coaster of emotional well-being, and maybe even our wider social situation. I don't know about you, but after a period of camaraderie and shared heroic effort, I now sense and see the disillusionment growing, circulating, deepening. Perhaps that's where you are. Maybe that's what you are sensing in others, too. Click the photo to enlarge. That disillusionment [...]

"We are all monks now."  That headline stopped me in my tracks. Whatever else this moment is, what if it might be our "monastic moment"? What if "healthy at home" can be more than a pandemic precaution, but an opportunity for something more. No, this isn't the shallow cheer leading that suggests we should learn a new language, master a new skill, or build something new with a zealous discipline and loads of "free time." [...]

Your invited to share Communion by Zoom on Sundays at 11:30 AM. Pause for a sacred moment to greet the church family, hear the words of institution, share bread and cup with whatever elements you have at home, and receive a blessing. To join, follow the links and use the password here.

You don't just have a body. You are a body. And bodies matter to God. So much so that God "became flesh" in Christ and lived among us (the "incarnation"). So much so that God raised Christ's body. So much so that when Christ was raised and appeared to the disciples and to Thomas he showed them his scarred body--his hands and his side. Bodies matter to God. And in Christ God embraces and relates to who we are [...]

My heart soared seeing so many faces yesterday. It was Maundy Thursday, and over 40 screens (filled with 70-100 people) gathered via zoom to remember Jesus' last supper, share in communion from our many different rooms and tables, and receive a blessing. If you weren't able to join, I want to share that blessing with you (at the very bottom of this email). I pray these words bless your soul as they have mine. See you (digitally) [...]

I think it's grief. At least that's what I've noticed about myself. I'm grieving. It doesn't feel like the grief I expect when a loved one dies. But it's grief, I'm growing more sure of it every day. I've seen some powerful acknowledgment of this grief. Recently I read a beautiful one by a South Elkhorn Church and choir member and professor at Transylvania University, Jeremy Paden. Maybe you've noticed it, too, even if you have [...]

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