Nov 30, 2020 | Advent, comfort, justice, lament
O God, the nations have defiled your holy temple; they have laid Jerusalem in ruins. They have given the bodies of your servants to the birds of the air for food. – Psalm 79:1-2 (NRSV) The bleakness of early Advent – these first few days when the lectionary...
Nov 8, 2020 | comfort, healing, justice, mental health, wholeness
On that day when the Lord gave the Amorites over to the Israelites, Joshua spoke to the Lord; and he said in the sight of Israel, “Sun, stand still at Gibeon; and Moon, in the valley of Aijalon.” And the sun stood still, and the moon stopped, until the nation took...
Oct 25, 2020 | confession, justice, prayer, wholeness
Not me, O Life, but us. Not mine, O Life, but ours. As far as the eastern horizon, as far as the western sea, all that is and all that can be. Not us or them, O Life, but every. Not us or theirs, O Life, but all’s. From the first wisp of dust to its final...
Oct 4, 2020 | images of God, justice, news, prayer
Spare us, Most Holy One, from the rolling thunder of your voice as it quakes our weary souls and sends us scurrying for lesser comforts. Let our comforts not be secondary gods, false idols, exploitation or cruelty or jealousy or lies. Spare us, Most Holy One, from the...
Sep 8, 2020 | discipleship, justice, music, wholeness
Praise the Lord! Sing to the Lord a new song, God’s praise in the assembly of the faithful. – Psalm 149:1 (NRSV) I used to sing. Not shower singing or holler-in-the-car singing or hum-to-myself singing, all of which I still do. But once upon a time, I sang in...
Aug 6, 2020 | discipleship, justice, wholeness
In advanced swimming lessons and in lifeguard training, many years ago, treading water was my favorite part of the final tests. Far from being a challenge to exert as much energy and strength as possible, treading water was a challenge to conserve energy as much as...
