Today, the second Saturday in Lent, I shall spend as much of the day as possible in the garden at the parsonage. I hope by late afternoon to be extremely dirty, tired, sore and with a stronger sense of the things I use to protect myself from entering the kingdom of heaven. On Sunday, I’ll be telling the story of the man who comes by darkness to talk with Jesus. I’m going to tell this through the eyes and ears... Read more
Into the second week of Lent, I find myself distracted from the time necessary to really do the important self-examination necessary for real repentance. A continued battle with severe allergic response, which exacerbates the constant problem of projects unfinished, has very much affected me plans. That, actually, I suspect, is what is making this Lenten journey even more enlightening. I have learned that a quick “I’m sorry” or a “I’ll fix this later” does absolutely nothing to bring about real... Read more
Just in case you haven’t heard this yet, this link will take you to a news story that speaks of the earthquake in Japan as having such an impact in its redistribution of land mass that speed of the earth’s spin has actually been increased. Of course, that is the invisible side of change that is also devastating Japan, washing bodies all over the shore, leaving people without food, water or shelter and exposing them to radiation. And yet I... Read more
Put yourself in this place: stretched to the limit, emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. You are tired, hungry, scared, emptied out, and are facing something huge, huge, huge. Life-changingly huge. It could be the night before an exam that will determine graduation or expulsion, a big presentation at work, a decision that will radically impact your life and the lives of those you love the most. You know the task before you will take everything you have—and there are no assurances... Read more
I was sitting outside yesterday afternoon, trying to read, still very much in the throes of this bad allergy situation that has brought about my “basketball head” response. It appears now that I’m reacting as badly to the medicine given for relief as I was to the original attack and am feeling decidedly unwell. As I sat out there, a bee began to buzz around me. I took alarm–a bee sting right now probably would do me in. I’m sensitive... Read more
You are exhausted, hungry, vulnerable, and getting ready to start what you know from the outset is going to be a difficult, if not impossible, task. You feel stretched to the limit, emotionally, physically, mentally, spiritually. It could be the night before a final exam, a big presentation at work, a decision that you know is going to radically impact your own life and the lives of those you love the most. You know the task before you will take... Read more
I didn’t turn on the news this morning or check any online sources, so am just now learning about the earthquake in Japan and the tsunamis to follow. Here’s a link to a NY Times article on it. Every time I hear of another natural disaster like this, my heart breaks for the devastation. Lives lost, those alive generally terrified and extremely confused, rescue operations mobilized but often delayed because major transportation channels are affected. We know of these things... Read more
Here’s a bit of health news that some of us less exercised people might like to read. This research (which shall probably soon be contradicted vigorously by some other research) suggests that too much intense training may actually damage heart muscle, leading to earlier deaths, not prolonged health well into old age. Hear! Hear! I say. OK, not exactly, but the point is this: we can become addicted to anything, and that includes excessive exercise. Even things that look good... Read more
The children came forth in droves to have their foreheads marked with ashes last night as we formally entered Lent in preparation for Easter. Close to 50 children and youth from our LOGOS/Midweek Miracle ministry along with parents and others from our church community and neighborhood, participated with both solemnity and hope. I found it hard to hold back tears of joy as I had the privilege of imposing those ashes onto those beautiful young faces and upon those who... Read more
I just read a riveting article about a college teacher who had a murder suspect in her classroom for a semester. The article, “Prime Suspect, Second Row,” can be found here (only for five days, through March 14, after that only for subscribers of The Chronicle of Higher Education website). The young man, handsome, poised, well-dressed, was a prime suspect in the ax murder of his father and the attempted murder of his mother. The professor knew the family and... Read more
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