I have a friend named Henry Nguyen. Henry has a great education, and teaches theology. He is married, and has three children. Henry has served in the Marines. For years, Henry has brewed beer at home. He is passionate about opportunities to create, and about the spiritual connections between life and food. Last week, Henry opened Monkish Brewing in Torrance. Henry is the kind of person who takes his time and does things well. He recognizes the importance of being in... Read more
Sharing is what community is all about. Life is a long potluck celebration. We each bring what we have to the table, and we get a taste of what everyone else brings. Some of us are gifted at making delicious and healthy food, others are more gifted at finding the right things at the store. Some bring enough food for everyone, some bring a great dessert, some bring candles and a tablecloth. Each of us has something to share. I... Read more
The most comprehensive challenge I face every day is knowing and being who I am. I recognize that I cannot be the leader I have the potential to be, cannot be the person I have the potential to be, when I lose sight of my true self. It takes me time and patience to gain new insights into the reality that is right in front of my eyes. At the same time, so many things within and beyond me push... Read more
The liturgical season of Lent began two weeks ago, on Ash Wednesday. I went to church, received ashes on my forehead to remind me that my life has limits, and began a focused effort to grapple with what holds me back. I have struggled with different things over the years. One year I gave up a job in which I was stuck. One year I gave up Netflix. One year I even gave up making fun of people from California... Read more
I have been making some new friends. I first met Matt Barber and Brittany Machado at the Eagle Rock Brewery, where I began my 2011 Craft Brewery Pilgrimage. They, along with Chris Pack, are bringing to life a way for people to tell the truth about how church has shaped their understanding of sex. Jesus, Don’t Let Me Die Before I ‘ve Had Sex is a documentary film project that gives people a voice to tell their stories. There is... Read more
In Charles Dicken’s A Christmas Carol, the ghost of Jacob Marley tells Scrooge that, “I wear the chain I forged in life. I made it link by link, and yard by yard.” Marley’s soul is bound by the actions and intentions of his life. Each of us is forging a life that binds us to ourselves. We are linking our actions each day to our vision for our lives and to our own core values. Some days, those links are strong and... Read more
We fear many things, and we expect leaders to alleviate our deepest fears. We are afraid of the unknown. We are afraid of making mistakes, and of failing. We are afraid of pain and suffering, of loss and of death. We are afraid that we will be forgotten. We are afraid of other people, and afraid of being left alone. We are afraid of conflict, afraid of the dark, and afraid of speaking in public. We are afraid that we... Read more
I appreciate the way Lauren Winner writes. She is honest, and writes honestly and bravely about things that mean a lot to me. She writes in a way that engages my attention and makes me want to read more. I appreciate her sense of humor and her sense of perspective. I enjoy reading what Lauren Winner writes, and gain new insights and strength from her. I learned from her books Girl Meets God and Mudhouse Sabbath, and now from Still.... Read more
Lent is not about giving things up. Lent is not a liturgical second chance for people who are not following through on their New Year’s resolutions. Lent is not about chocolate, caffeine, alcohol, or Facebook. Lent is about being honest. It is an opportunity each year to recognize who I truly am, and to take stock of the things in my life that keep me from being my truest self. In my church, it is a way to be intimately... Read more
Benedict’s Rule tells us that “Always, we begin again.” Today, my Craft Brewery Pilgrimage begins again. I start with several intentions in mind. First, I know that something very important happens when people come together around a table. Who I am and what I do are reflected in the community of leadership, monasticism, and revelry that is created around a table. The more opportunities I take to build and expand that community, the better. I also recognize the long historic... Read more
Strategic Monk
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