Mark Twain was born on this day in 1835. His just published uncensored autobiography is currently on various best seller lists. Pretty good for someone a hundred and seventy-five years old! Read more

I’ve noticed the rhetoric being thrown around in right wing circles for a while now. And it has sent small chills down my back.American Exceptionalism is a particularly unsavory bit of jingoism used to silence critics. I think I first noticed it in debates about health care. The World Health Organization ranks the U.S. at thirty-seventh place, after, well, thirty six other countries. That, of course, is a somewhat vague metric. Although the attacks I’ve heard are that the WHO... Read more

THOUGHTS WHILE HOLDING A CANDLE IN THE DARK A Sermon on Hanukkah Anticipated James Ishmael Ford 28 November 2010 First Unitarian Church Providence, Rhode Island Text A candle is a small thing. But one candle can light another. And see how it’s own light increases, as a candle gives its flame to the other. You are such a light. Moshe Davis & Victor Ratner Once upon a time a friend who is psychic told me that I’d been a rabbi... Read more

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I was recently interviewed for an article in Options, a local BGLT oriented magazine. I was holding forth about how we at the First Unitarian Church were not only welcoming but were aggressively involved in the work for marriage equality in our state. The interviewer asked how it was that I’d become an BGLTQQI ally. I was flummoxed.  Didn’t have an answer. I guess it was like a frog in water gradually boiled. I was raised in a homophobic household.... Read more

Last night after cleaning up from our little Thanksgiving feast (rotisserie grilling a turkey for the first time. My goodness, it was great!), overcoming trypotophan-driven inertia (okay, maybe over-eating-driven inertia), we went out to a local multiplex and took in the penultimate Harry Potter movie. Me, I enjoyed it a lot. As did auntie. As did Jan. And I look forward to the conclusion. Which, I think won’t be like when the family walked out of the theater after watching... Read more

Me, I’ve always liked Thanksgiving. First off I’ve a lot to be thankful for. And second our American holiday myth is massively conflicted. Kind of like real life. What’s not to like? So, a little medley of video clips in honor of it all… The serious… The silly… The surreal… Read more

On the Origin of Species was published on this day in 1859. One of those magic moments in human existence… Read more

Stirring up gratitude In a flash, memories of joy and sorrow mingle in thanksgiving.By James Ishmael Ford  As I was making oatmeal this morning, I found my gaze focused on the large wooden spoon I was using to stir oats into boiling water. Many memories, many thoughts bubbled with the oats. I have spent much of my life engaged in the spiritual quest. I spent some time as a Zen monk and many years after in which making a living... Read more

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