Of my more than 30 books on Advent, one uniquely stands out. Wounded in Spirit -- Advent Art and Meditations by David Bannon looks at the art of 25 artists, many of whom painted as a result of some deep grieving, often from some significant loss in their lives. Bannon is an art historian, aContinue reading "Advent is a time to be wounded in spirit"
You get to take 3 things
I don't know when this all started, but my wife, Jennifer, and I have done some serious downsizing this fall. We had our house re-roofed about 6 weeks ago, and that house project kicked into full gear what had already started. This a picture of our bedroom after we relentlessly downsized. 🙂 We travel prettyContinue reading "You get to take 3 things"
We don’t know the future; we do know who holds the future
This morning on this Election Day I awoke thinking of a Catholic priest, whose life and ministry became familiar to me in the beginning days of my campus ministry at the University of Illinois. Oscar A. Romero, Archbishop of San Salvador, in El Salvador, was assassinated on March 24, 1980, while celebrating Mass in a smallContinue reading "We don’t know the future; we do know who holds the future"
You really don’t have to worry about the election outcome next Tuesday…
Here's a great reminder from Christian thinker and writer Frank Viola about who wins the election next week. We don't have to worry about it! We don't have to fret about it. I actually think Viola's words ought to be shared in church pulpits across America this Sunday leading up to the election. It wouldContinue reading "You really don’t have to worry about the election outcome next Tuesday…"
Oh the mystery of life & death
"Whatever may be the mysteries of life and death, there is one mystery which the cross of Christ reveals to us, and that is the infinite and absolute goodness of God. Let all the rest remain a mystery, so long as the mystery of the cross of Christ gives us faith for all the rest."Continue reading "Oh the mystery of life & death"
Adaptability must become our friend during the pandemic
Cleaning out my office last week, I found letters I wrote to my wife, Jennifer, before we were married more than 40 years ago. One letter said I was up before 6am, reading and writing. That hasn’t changed much, except most days now it’s up before 5am. I do like my routine. Most ofContinue reading "Adaptability must become our friend during the pandemic"
This is not the time for giving up; it’s time for holding on
As Americans move inexorably toward the election, there’s such a sense of uncertainty, a sense of dread. Its palpable, isn’t it? Almost every day some pastor, with apprehension in his voice, says to me: “What do you think will happen on November 3rd?” I don't know. But then couple that apprehension with the COVID pandemicContinue reading "This is not the time for giving up; it’s time for holding on"
How will we live out the story we are given?
A few years ago, I helped my mom sort through all the final burial expenses following my dad’s death. They included the cost of having his body flown from Sioux Falls, South Dakota, to Denver, CO, and having a funeral director make a 500-mile round trip to pick up his body. Mom had two wordsContinue reading "How will we live out the story we are given?"