An Epiphany: God’s Light Shines Brightest in Dark Places

January 7, 2024 By Paul Louis Metzger

Today marks Epiphany, which means “manifestation.” Epiphany highlights one, two, or three biblical accounts depending on one’s Christian experience and tradition. It features one or more of the following events: the wise men’s visitation, worship, with giving of gifts to the toddler Jesus in Bethlehem (Matthew 2:1-12); the baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist in the Jordan River (2:13-17); Jesus turning water into wine at a wedding in Cana of Galilee (John 2:1-12). We find in each account that... Read more

Christmas to 2nd Advent: The Austere Blessedness of Waiting

December 25, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Dietrich Bonhoeffer wrote in God is in the Manger: Reflections on Advent and Christmas, “Whoever does not know the austere blessedness of waiting—that is, of hopefully doing without—will never experience the full blessing of fulfillment.” So true. Advent, which ended last night, is all about waiting. Not only does Advent entail waiting for Jesus’ birth, which we celebrate today. It is also about the Second Advent, when Jesus comes again. Such waiting is “austere,” that is, severe and harsh. But... Read more

Advent: Adjusting Expectations for Life

December 18, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Yesterday marked the third Sunday of Advent. This is the third of four reflections on Advent in 2023. The first reflection focused on Abraham who waited faithfully for the fulfilment of God’s promise involving the Messianic hope. The second focused on Zechariah and Elizabeth, who waited faithfully for God’s promise to give them a son who would prepare the way for the Messiah who would provide salvation for God’s people. This third reflection features Joseph, Mary’s husband, and the father... Read more

Advent: Full of Mixed Emotions

December 10, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Today marks the second Sunday of Advent. Advent is all about waiting, and waiting often involves mixed emotions. Waiting is so hard to do in any season of life, and in any age. Perhaps it is most difficult today in an instant gratification culture, where “we want the world, and we want it now” (Jim Morrison, lyrics to “When the Music’s Over,” The Doors). No matter how young or how old, it is difficult to wait and cope with mixed... Read more

Advent: More Than a Waiting Game

December 3, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Today is the first Sunday of Advent. Advent is about waiting. But it is far more and very different from a waiting game. The Cambridge Dictionary defines “waiting game” as a “situation in which you delay taking any action, so that you can watch how a situation develops and see what it is best for you to do.” Those of us who are experiencing crises don’t have the luxury to engage in such waiting games in which no action is... Read more

Thanksgiving Is Not Just a Day. Giving Thanks Is a Way of Life

November 24, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

Cultivating a spirit of thankfulness is life changing. There’s a major difference between seeing life as a cup half empty (or less) and life as a cup half full (or more). This post is about seeing Thanksgiving not just as a day. Giving thanks is a way of life. We are nearing three years since my adult son’s catastrophic brain injury. I will not hide from the fact that so much has been taken away from him, his wife and... Read more

Explore the Space: Widening the Range of Emotions

November 13, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

This post is about the need to explore the space of widening the range of our emotions for human flourishing. Saturday had been a gloomy, rainy day. But the report I received upon arrival at my son Christopher’s adult care facility was hardly gloomy or rainy. Christopher had manifested a widening range of emotions on Saturday, as well as in recent days. I do not ever take his emotional activity for granted since his traumatic brain injury in January 2021.... Read more

One Day at a Time: Living with Prolonged Trauma

October 24, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

This post is about the importance of taking one day at a time when living with prolonged trauma. Saturday evening was rough. I had just arrived at my adult son Christopher’s room in his care facility following a two-day leadership retreat I helped lead. As soon as I walked into Christopher’s room, his CNA urged me to get him to the hospital. She is the most amazing caregiver. She treats Christopher as if he were her brother. Christopher looked miserable... Read more

Automatism, Purposeful Activity, and Human Progress

September 17, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

How often is our behavior non-purposeful, without intention, and without conscious awareness? How often is our behavior purposeful, intentional, and conscious of others’ well-being? I got to thinking about this subject the past few days, as I reflected on the theme of automatism. This post reflects upon the need for purposeful regard for other persons’ wellbeing if we are to experience human progress. I mentioned “automatism” above. So, what is automatism? According to the American Psychological Association, automatism is “nonpurposeful... Read more

On Spiritual Warfare: Bowing Down in Prayerful Obedience

September 10, 2023 By Paul Louis Metzger

0 Comments

I was role-playing with my six-year-old granddaughter Jaylah the other day. She had her tired, old grandpa on his hands and knees as she stood confidently before me eye to eye. I was an alligator, and she was a fairy princess. At one point, she paused to reflect on what she would say next. She pondered and then proclaimed: “What’s that word again? Oh yeah, bow down to me!” What is a good-natured and tired alligator like me to do... Read more