In a popular online Yoga for Complete Beginners video, the instructor begins by inviting participants into a Sanskrit-named pose. We, the viewers, are going to relax, to ‘watch’ the breath, ‘create space’ in the body, and ‘connect’ with ourselves. We are encouraged to remember that there are no right or wrong poses. The movements are about “self-expression” and “awareness” of the body. When I finished my awkward attempts at the poses and lay on my back listening to the soft... Read more
“Our Father in Heaven. Your Kingdom Come.” This familiar prayer has been spoken by Christians for over 2,000 years. But over the span of Christian history, we seem to have directed the longing this prayer expresses in three directions. Maybe there are more, but the way I read it, Christianity longs for a three-fold kingdom of God. Read more
In the episode entitled ‘Religion’ in the much anticipated second season of Aziz Ansari’s show ‘Master of None,’ Aziz’s character Dev Shah finds himself forced to pretend he is an observant Muslim to please his parents. Aziz was himself raised Muslim, but does not practice, or take religion all that seriously. In the episode, Dev’s devout aunt and uncle are in town, and his parents pressure him to say he is fasting for Ramadan, regularly attends the Mosque for prayer,... Read more
“Let the rivers clap their hands, let the mountains sing together for joy.” –Psalms 98:8 Read more
We need Holy Breath now more than ever. Read more
Today in my morning prayers I read Psalms 58. If you are not familiar, Psalms 58 is one of the more vicious “Cursing” Psalms, wherein the poet-author begs God for vengeance on his enemies. Some exceptionally gruesome lines read: O God, break the teeth in their mouths; tear out the fangs of these lions, O Lord! Let them vanish like water that runs away; Let them wither like grass that is trodden underfoot. Let them be like the snail that... Read more
“The liturgy creates a universe brimming with fruitful spiritual life, and allows the soul to wander about in it at will and to develop itself there.” –Romano Guardini, The Spirit of the Liturgy Read more
My local grocer is selling severed Buddha heads and Tostitos on the same display. I mean why not right? Read more
I attend a High Mass Anglo-Catholic Parish in Vancouver called Saint James. There are sometimes 12 people in the Chancel at a time, attending to the consecration of the Eucharist, swarming in dervish like semi-circles around the eastward facing priest. Priests, deacons, sub-deacons, acolytes, thurifer, torch bearers and crucifer. No single one of us, even the priest makes the dance complete. We are each an integral part of the liturgical ecology. This is of course not a food chain,... Read more
In the spring, The pale yellow-green leaves of the maples Bleed into the rich yellow plumage of the just-arrived warblers. By the time the maple leaves are deep green with summer, The warblers will have gone. –May 17, 2017 Read more
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