“Where was God?” I knew the question was coming. I could feel it. My son is a smart kid. I knew he wouldn’t let the death of an older former babysitter go without discussion. I welcome these questions. I don’t hide from them. I engage them directly. So, I replied, “Bart ate God.” Immediately, my son inquired, “Who is Bart?” Without hesitation, I offered, “Bart is a dinosaur that can teach us more about God than any book of... Read more
Growing up, I was in church every Sunday. I sat in our favorite pew. I memorized every hymn. I remembered the scriptures. I sought Jesus the best I knew how. I always knew that something wasn’t right about that space. Oppression came from every direction. I couldn’t get out. I didn’t know enough. Decades later, I sit here this morning with enough knowledge. I don’t want to go to a traditional church for all the right reasons. Despite the... Read more
*I’m thankful that my brother Robert Morris read these words at the Dallas rally. I apologize that I’m not with you this evening. Life won’t allow it. So, I’m forced to communicate to you at this grave hour through the written word. We are in the middle of a national crisis. The bodies keep dropping. The names keep piling up. What are we to do? I don’t believe there is anything we can do but pray. So,... Read more
*I wrote the following letter to the editor for the people of De Leon, Texas after a recent visit. Beauty reaches out and grabs you. I experience it every time. I see it. I feel it. I hear it. The land speaks. The fields sway. The sky never stops. I could go on and on. Make no mistake…De Leon is a beautiful place. Unfortunately, everything turned ugly on our last visit. We were driving through town when... Read more
The slam of the car door sent me scrambling last night. I ran down the street as fast as I could. I knew it was happening all over again. Throughout my body, adrenaline exploded. The terror was back. When I finally stopped, I was alone. The dark streets of our neighborhood reminded me that I was still close to home. Read the rest at… http://wedentondoit.com/blog/2016/9/7/jeff-hood-on-denton-pd Read more
*Delivered at Hope Lutheran Church Listen. We keep hearing of pain and rumors of pain. Think. Our society is often drowning. Our personal lives are sick. We need something more than what we can grasp to survive. Yet, we still reach. Feel. Most people reach for connection. We assume that our identity will save us. We keep naming what we are. The problem is that the names are always partial. The identities are never complete. Know. We... Read more
Claiming a fictitious past. Finding a fictitious present. Praying for a fictitious future. You are the worst kind of liar. You don’t remember when you’re telling the truth. You say we have problems. Where were you? Where were you when the bodies dropped? Where were you when families were devastated? Where were you when the world went crazy? You were sitting on your swollen ass praying for your fictitious future. You are fiction in the midst of deadly realities.... Read more
Does God experience our pain? Amen. Read more
“Faggot.” Where did that come from? I politely smiled at the guy. I was just walking down the street. I was trying to be nice. How can a chance encounter become so hateful? I guess hate is the only answer. Though I’ve been called a “Faggot” before, this time was particularly painful. I think it hit me in a low moment. Now that I’ve recovered a bit, I wish that I’d simply responded, “Thank you.” Amen. Read more
Eyes wired shut. Repeated rapid pupil movements. Face up. Head toward the ceiling. Nostrils sucking in air. Chest at ease. Arms relaxed. Legs straight. My flesh rests easy in the hammock that is my bones. I am one with the night. The night is one with me. Do I know that I’m asleep? Color collides with color. Even with me in it, there is nothing wrong with my reality. Planets pass by. Stars shine their greetings. I... Read more
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