How do you find yourself spending your time these days? Are you enjoying the long, open moments, the freedom of choice, the ease of not having anywhere to go? Have you learned to befriend your boredom, to enjoy a little creativity, to calm the anxiety that sometimes arises and then meet it with a friendly […]
Read more "In Spirit and in Truth"Sometimes in my work as a hospice chaplain, I feel like I’m a citizen of two worlds. In the here-and-how, I’m supporting patients and families in whatever way seems to fit the needs of the moment best: just being there, listening, caring, exploring questions, reading scripture, getting coffee, holding hands, offering prayer. But I am […]
Read more "Lessons from Eternity"Have you noticed the sense of peace and quiet that settles over the world as winter arrives? No more crickets chirping; only a few bird calls, here and there. There are no leaves left on the trees to rustle in the breeze. Late at night, when I take Gloria outside for the last time before […]
Read more "Peace and Quiet"Wednesday of this week was Ash Wednesday, which means the season of Lent has begun. In many denominations, people go to church and receive a cross of ash on their foreheads. The ashes are made by burning the palm fronds from the previous year’s Palm Sunday. The pastor who gives the blessing typically says something […]
Read more "Your Personal Wilderness"Already it’s apple season. And that brings lots of things to be thankful for: Apple cider, apple cake, cinnamon apple bread, apple pies. Tart apples, sweet apples, crispy apples, red, green, and gold. Life is good, especially in the fall, isn’t it? The local you-pick apple orchards are now open for business, and farm stores […]
Read more "Apple Season"Do you know that moment in the evening-time, when you finally sit down to rest—maybe on the deck– after picking up sticks and pulling weeds and mowing the grass and fixing supper and cleaning up the dishes? It’s that moment when everything’s done that’s going to get done today. A time when you can relax […]
Read more "Being Content"So who here this morning was glad to see the snow yesterday? Aw, bah humbug! But it was at least beautiful, wasn’t it? There’s something mesmerizing about watching those delicate snowflakes falling slowly toward the ground. It’s like time becomes visible for the slightest moment. And a hush, a stillness, seems to come over everything […]
Read more "Let It Snow!"