In a recent podcast, I shared that I believe much of our American culture, and certainly American religious culture, is dependent on our perpetual disembodiment. That is to say, it is based on our continued inability to listen to our bodies, to the bodies of others, and to recognize the inherent dignity within and all around us. We have another word for this, perhaps one that resonates more with your experience: disconnection. Living in a culture rooted in individualism, otherizing... Read more
About a month ago, I shared this hugely impactful story from my life. This is a follow-up to that story. So, what do I really mean when I refer to the act of sinking? Imagine a large body of crystal clear water–the kind just calling for you to dip your toes into. The surface takes your breath away and you could stand at its edges all day long. And yet if you look closely, you can see that it is... Read more
A few months ago I wrote a piece detailing the wisdom teachers who have had the biggest influence on my life. These included elders like Parker Palmer, mystics like Mirabai Starr, and saints like Teresa of Ávila. And as with all things, there are moments and seasons in one’s life when specific wisdom teachers resonate more than others. Just like with music, wisdom teachers often carry a vibe – a feeling, an energy – that aligns with specific emotions... Read more
Does not wisdom call and does not understanding raise her voice? On the heights, beside the way, at the crossroads she takes her stand. –Proverbs 8 This image of crossroads – the temporary pause, the space, the choice point between one and another – brings with it questions for us to explore: which way do I go? Who should I listen to? How long can I sit here in the unknown? The crossroads is a space of unknowing. It... Read more
For many of us, myself very much included, we have been brought up to respect, honor, and prioritize personal and individual freedom – it is a core tenet of American capitalism and our country’s mythos. When I was growing up, being “free” meant being able to do what I wanted without undue restriction, buy whatever I wanted given I had the money, and lead a life however I could, given my circumstances. In other words, freedom meant: “I get to... Read more
It’s a strange thing to be connected with so many Christian clergy and yet have no faith community of my own, no desire to be in church, and feel constantly on-edge when Christendom comes up in conversation. And yet here we are. When I voice my hesitancy and questions with my clergy friends, I often find deep resonance; that even though they are paid leaders, they also have personal questions about faith and the Divine, consistent and unresolved frustrations with... Read more
If you’re a teacher, a pastor, or a professor – I have some questions. (Full disclosure: I’m a former teacher and still work in the education world.) The very best of what you do, content-wise, is available online. The best sermons, the best lectures, the best examples for how to solve a problem. From the best in the world. And more accessible than ever before. In other words, chances are: you have access to sharing the best in the world... Read more
Another way we might think of spirituality is as a radical process of seeing what’s underneath the moment right in front of us – of touching upon the inherent dignity within everything, available to us all the time. And I mean radical; in a culture of nonstop doing, producing, and reacting – a culture of the status quo and of “going along to get along” – practicing presence and seeking to see beneath the obvious is a radical act. I’m... Read more
There had been an emergency. Having picked up the phone on its second ring, I listened as a friend frantically asked if I could come to her house to babysit. Her husband fell during a soccer game and was now on his way to the hospital. It wasn’t life-threatening, but it was urgent nonetheless. Of course I dropped everything, threw a couple things quickly into the car, and began the ten minute drive across town. Arriving at her house, I... Read more
Lesson 1: Wear a seatbelt. When I was eight years old, I was in the car with my mom driving down Interstate 5 between Seattle and Bellingham. It was an old, boxy Honda with manual window cranks and fabric seats. The car screamed the 1990s. We had just been visiting my great grandmother, Alyce, a weekly ritual for my mom who traveled north to see her each Tuesday. This time, I had tagged along. As we were moving with traffic... Read more
Becoming Faithful Questioners and Social Poets
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In