Twenty years ago on this day a brief and exciting moment of hope for democracy in China ended… My great fear is that as we witness China’s brand of new fascism and its rise on the world stage is how possibly we’re also witnessing the world’s future. These are interesting times, no doubt… Read more

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As you set out for Ithakahope the voyage is a long one,full of adventure, full of discovery.Laistrygonians and Cyclops,angry Poseidon—don’t be afraid of them:you’ll never find things like that on your wayas long as you keep your thoughts raised high,as long as a rare excitementstirs your spirit and your body.Laistrygonians and Cyclops,wild Poseidon—you won’t encounter themunless you bring them along inside your soul,unless your soul sets them up in front of you. Hope the voyage is a long one.May there... Read more

On this day in 1888 the San Francisco Examiner published the poem “Casey at the Bat.” It was signed by “Phin,” and there was confusion for several years about the actual authorship. The poem was in fact written by Ernest Thayer. Read more

Lou Gehrig died on this day in 1941. We could use a few more folk like Mr Gehrig in our lives, people who give it their all with grace and attention. Even if they just throw a ball for a living, they enrich all of us… Read more

WRESTLING WITH GOD A Sermon preached at the Ordination of Catherine Senghas to the Unitarian Universalist Ministry 31 May 2009 First ParishFramingham, Massachusetts James Ishmael FordSenior MinisterFirst Unitarian ChurchProvidence, Rhode Island Text So Jacob was left alone, and a man wrestled with him till daybreak. When the man saw that he could not overpower him, he touched the socket of Jacob’s hip so that his hip was wrenched as he wrestled with the man. Then the man said, “Let me... Read more

The Trickster Guru by Alan Watts I have often thought of writing a novel, similar to Thomas Mann’s “Confessions of Felix Krull,” which would be the life story of a charlatan making out as a master guru – either initiated in Tibet or appearing as the reincarnation of Nagarjuna, Padmasambhava, or some other great historical sage of the Orient. It would be a romantic and glamorous tale, flavored with the scent of pines in Himalayan valleys, with garden courtyards in... Read more

Gotta Serve Somebody You may be an ambassador to England or France,You may like to gamble, you might like to dance,You may be the heavyweight champion of the world,You may be a socialite with a long string of pearls But you’re gonna have to serve somebody, yes indeedYou’re gonna have to serve somebody,Well, it may be the devil or it may be the LordBut you’re gonna have to serve somebody. You might be a rock ‘n’ roll addict prancing on... Read more

Yesterday while driving to a wedding rehearsal I received a call telling me the member of the congregation in intensive care was worsening. After the rehearsal, such sweet young people, charming, smart, fun to be around; I dashed to the hospital. There his wife said that it was time, she’d consulted with the family and their doctors and they were scheduling removing the breathing tube – for today. So, today the tube comes out and we will wait. This afternoon... Read more

Dolores Hope turned one hundred today. Bob’s widow. Bob was probably my parent’s favorite comedian. And therefore on our little black and white a ubiquitous presence… He and Bing and that whole gang still have a place in my dreams. Here’s a bit of a retrospective (together with one throw away joke that is palpably racist) that includes both Bob & his beloved Dolores… Read more