“Water does not resist. Water flows. When you plunge your hand into it, all you feel is a caress. Water is not a solid wall, it will not stop you. But water always goes where it wants to go, and nothing in the end can stand against it. Water is patient. Dripping water wears away…
Earlier this winter, on the morning of our first major snowstorm, my tub faucet started dripping suddenly. I immediately called my dad to ask how to fix it and had the necessary repair parts in hand within 48 hours, but I have to admit that it took eleven days from the time of the first…
The expression “for the birds” has always intrigued me. My grandparents and parents employed it when they wanted to discredit a claim, practice,\ or belief as trivial or meaningless. “Wearing shoes with no socks is for the birds,” they might say. In my family, “Nichts taugen (nothing good)!” was the German equivalent. According to Grammarist…
The pandemic clearly surfaces some deep cracks in the economic foundations of the world. We invite ourselves today to reflect on our personal economics and the impact our daily choices have on the greater common good. The following “Economic Justice Examen” was prompted and published by two beautiful spirits in Seattle, Washington: Kelly Hickman and…
Text-critical biblical scholars are often occupied with the arduous, sometimes frustratingly tedious task of studying palimpsests (pronounced ‘paləm(p) sest’). Palimpsests are ancient manuscripts/parchments often made from animal hides in which the original writing has been effaced—usually washed off or scraped off—in order to be reused. Traces of earlier writing remain and are visible, but the overall effect…
So many people, resigned to the fact that we can’t go back to pre-pandemic routines, seek to live into a new rhythm post-pandemic. Just a few weeks ago, the New York Times published an article, “Can Spiritual Directors Help?” citing that one gift of meeting with a spiritual director/companion is the opportunity to take a…
What happens to our fragile interior sanctuary when sacred space is violated? Victims of abuse will confirm this: in some sense, they never recover. From the Latin root sacer, the word sacred connotes something that is set apart, consecrated or dedicated in service of the Holy. It is the most fundamental connection we experience as…
At this week’s end, spurred by the presidential inauguration held just two day ago, we may sense a deeper awareness to commit to our personal and communal inaugurations. As we each attune to shifting energies, we offer you this beautiful song and prayer compelling us all to intentionally step forward, reach across personal and communal…
Trees are on my mind these days. This Saturday, we’ll have a Women in Interfaith Dialogue conversation about the trees we’ve known and loved throughout our lives, as well as our spiritual connection with trees personally and within our faith traditions. Then next week (Jan. 25–29) we have a wonderful series of Treasuring Our Trees…
In the midst of seemingly contrasting energies in this country and throughout the world, we may be challenged to know what and how to pray. Nan C. Merrill, Psalm scholar and author of Lumen Christi … Holy Wisdom and Psalms for Praying: An Invitation to Wholeness, encourages prayerful meditation of the challenge to continue to…