What can other faiths tell us about our own? This week, I want to reflect on learnings I have gained from my Catholic heritage, Jesus’s Jewish tradition and my current Wesleyan training. What attributes do the Catholic’s Corporeal Works of Mercy, Wesley’s Means of Grace and Jesus’ Tikkum Olam share? Concepts of Deep Ecumenism When examining the Corporeal Works of Mercy, Wesley’s Means of Grace, and Tikkun Olam, we find they share a core focus on: Action and Service All... Read more
How Shall We Go I read an interesting article the other day that pointed us to the Exodus story and how it demonstrates to us how to navigate difficult times. As a mental health clinician, I am trained in what is known as trauma-informed care. While the latest rounds of global and domestic current events have left many lost, confused and unsure of what to do, as children of God, God guides us through scripture on how we must go.... Read more
Life was busy last week; I got my first seven-hour training week in for the year and it left me wrecked on Sunday. I was not able to get this post out like I intended. Post Long Covid is not fun sometimes. Deuteronomy 30:19 – “Choose life so you and your descendants may live” I have been thinking about the spiritual practice of reverence lately and what it means to revere something or somebody. To revere is to feel deep... Read more
Cultivating Right Relationships Once again, we find ourselves celebrating the romantic holiday of Valentines’ Day. Last year, I wrote on who we could love, this year, I want to focus on how we love. The love I want to focus on this year is not the standard erotic love that so marks Valentines’ Day, but instead, I want to focus on the love we have for our neighbor, the philios love and the agapic and kenotic love demonstrated to us... Read more
Jesus asks us to keep watch in his story of the ten virgins. We are cautioned to watch out for false prophets. Religion specifically is a very tricky experience as it is all subjective based on a number of factors including but not limited to, time, cultural, geographic location and political factions. All the major religions of the world have love and peace somewhere in their core tenets. To boil it down further, do good. Trained in humanistic psychology, I... Read more
I remember a worship service I did with my youth group years ago when I was a pastor at West Jefferson UMC. In this service, we reenacted a first century Palestinian Christian house church worship service, a time after Jesus’ death while the persecutions were going on for the early Christians. Many in the congregation were shocked over how difficult it was to worship in our space and real and raw stressors the early Christians were facing in establishing and... Read more
I have spent the last few posts considering a thoughtful reaction to the rapid changes that are happening in the American landscape. I am aware that there are other places around the world that are also facing tough political and societal shifts. For this second post, I want to spend some time considering how you are doing? One of the constant topics I am dealing with in the office each day (I am a therapist), is identity. I was talking... Read more
A Just God Gives Back Another week of vindictive actions by President Trump have invaded our media feeds and many misaligned Christians have cheered him on. Simply castigating and pointing out the problem is not the solution, rather, here, I would like to consider concepts that have been with me since my Social Work and Center for Social Concern Days at Gannon University. This week, I want to explore restorative justice versus retributive justice and the Catholic notion of preferential... Read more
In a world where anger and anxiety are taking center stage, the practice of lament offers a profound and healing alternative. By providing a structured outlet for sorrow and grief, lament allows individuals to process their emotions in a meaningful way, fostering resilience, hope, and inner peace. Embracing lament can transform our approach to emotional challenges, guiding us towards a more balanced and compassionate existence. In the complex tapestry of human emotions, anger and anxiety often dominate, casting shadows over... Read more
Patriotism, communism, socialism, racism, sexism. All these “isms” seem to be defining who we are right, and they are putting is in odds with each other and tearing us apart. It makes me wonder, is this the way we should be posturing ourselves if we claim to be Christian? Mathew 5:44 – “Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you” It is often suggested to approach those who oppose us with understanding and compassion. Sometimes, our greatest adversaries... Read more
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