Twenty years ago now, I was nearing the end of my seminary coursework and preparing to start a semester of practicum, known as CPE, or Clinical Pastoral Education. This is the time where all the concepts and theories and techniques students have learned come to life in full color. With real people, who have real […]
Read more "Tiny Truthful Moments"In looking through some files this morning (trying to find something for a training I need to facilitate tomorrow), I ran across this reflection written a while back for a memorable hospice patient. This post is dedicated to a gentle Japanese man who was seemingly alone in the world, with no family, no friends, and language and […]
Read more "From All Limits, Free"This week I’ve been thinking about why we do the things we do, personally and collectively. There are lots of reasons, of course, lots of motivations, many causes—seen and unseen—that contribute to us being the people we are, making the choices we make, and creating the lives we live. But there’s also something more than […]
Read more "For One Another"We had at least two beautiful, sunny, 70-degree days this week and all of nature—at least here in central Indiana—seemed to respond. The grass in my backyard is already greening up. Mornings are full of birdsong. There are buds on the maple tree. The tulip and daffodil shoots in the front garden—which is on the […]
Read more "The Growing Season"Do you enjoy taking care of things? Big things, small things, maybe things no one else will ever notice. Like folding all the towels carefully, so they line up neatly on the shelf in the linen closet. Arranging all the spoons in the silverware drawer or using the freshest ingredients for the soup you’re serving […]
Read more "Taking Care"My days usually start slow and easy. I get up, typically before the sun—that’s easier to do right now than it will be in June—I take the dogs out and make coffee. I purposely leave things soft and quiet for a while. I may light a candle on the kitchen table, but the rest of […]
Read more "Heating & Cooling"Happy Father’s Day to you if you are a father, have had a father, or have loved someone who is a father! I read some interesting research this week that showed that being a dad makes men happier and more satisfied with their lives—and apparently most dads would choose time with their kids over […]
Read more "Prodigals All"What will you do to commemorate Earth Day today? Will you pick up trash, plant flowers, go to the recycling center, feed the birds, or just breathe the fresh spring air and feel grateful? There’s an infinite number of ways—organized and not—we can honor the sacred relationship we share with our earth. I personally look […]
Read more "Kinship with All Life"Have you ever heard of the old Chinese curse, “May you live in interesting times”? Well, curse or not, we are certainly living in interesting times. Tensions are high. Tempers are short. Our trust—in our leaders, our media, our businesses, our neighbors—feels shakier than ever. Constantly breaking news, as well as tragedies, world crises, natural […]
Read more "Who Are We, Really?"Have you noticed that people seem to be at a loss right now? Our elected officials in Washington are certainly at a loss. Our old comfortable ways of doing things—from diplomacy to entertainment—don’t seem to be working well anymore. Sources we have long turned to for the truth—I’m thinking of Walter Cronkite and Peter Jennings here, which […]
Read more "What’s Your Superpower?"
The Space between the Words 