We Pray For Those Who Have Died We pray for all those who have died. For everyone who has ever been shot while worshiping at a mosque or synagogue or church or a Sikh temple or anywhere else. We pray for each person who has died violently no matter who did the killing. Our prayers are for anyone and everyone who has died neglected and alone. We pray for those who have died because they were abused, tortured, or ignored… Read more

Spiritual Life is Beginning to Bloom I was born and raised in the country far from where I live now. There is a cycle of cultivation and growing in the country. Each season plays its own role in the cycle. The cycle begins in winter. Winter can appear to be a time of year when nothing really happens. It is, though, a significant season because winter sets the tone for the rest of the year. Winter weather makes it a… Read more

Is Lent a Contemplative Practice? I am a member of a church where one liturgical season ends and another begins next week. Wednesday is Ash Wednesday, the first day of the liturgical season we call Lent. Lent is not about giving things up. It is not a liturgical second chance for people who do not follow through on their New Year’s resolutions. Lent is not primarily about chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or social media. We are beginning a season about being… Read more

How We Know What We Think We Know Most of us are convinced we know what we think we know. Some of us believe our senses have shown us what we think we know. We trust our own eyewitness testimony. There are experiences we remember so strongly they shape how we see the rest of our lives. We might have learned what we think we know from other people. What we think we know may come from years of education… Read more