Today somebody challenged my opinion on a controversial issue; strangely, the challenge rocked my world a little. The experience was all very curious . . . after all, I am one who feels very well at home with all kinds of different opinions floating around; the discomfort of diversity is something I relish. My very wise spiritual director always tells me to step away and look at things, just to sit with the uneasiness for awhile and see where it... Read more
My do ate my keyboard. I’m not kiddin . I always thou ht that was kind o a i ure o speech, not an actual occurrence. But, alas, I ot up rom the couch to answer a telephone call and when I returned two letters on my keyboard-two letters ri ht in the middle o my keyboard, no less, have been . . . well, chewed o . As my dissertation is due in approximately 15 days, this turn o ... Read more
Can you? I remember that you really can’t when you’re 13, but I’m talking here about the parent side of things. So far I’ve been crossing my fingers and kind of watching helplessly as it all unfolds around me, but I realized the other day that I keep waiting for some terrible other shoe to drop. Of course I recognize that much of that perspective comes from the memory of the avocado green copies of Preparing for Adolescence and its accompanying workbook... Read more
I don’t know what else to call this post. Taken on Christmas Eve at our worship service, this picture of Calvary members depicting the nativity is everything I love about Calvary Baptist Church. In this place everybody’s differences are what, together, make the most beautiful expressions of God’s great love for the world. Thanks, my Calvary family, for always reminding me. Read more
Alright, alright, alright. Every time I open the mailbox and dive into holiday greetings from friends I have to work to push away the guilt because this will be the second year in a row that we have not mailed a Christmas letter. Or pictures of our adorable children. Or cards. We haven’t even sent cheery emails. Some of our friends don’t even know where we live. Pathetic. Last year we were in the middle of moving-everything was up in... Read more
Beautiful new stoles and vestments graced the sanctuary thanks to talented sewing-machine operators in our congregation. It was a beautiful Sunday to celebrate with my very excellent colleagues (l to r): Leah Grundset, Edgar Palacios, me, Eric Bebber. What a team! Read more
The weather outside today is absolutely frigid. Today’s cold spell follows a few weeks of steely gray skies and torrential rain, leaving everybody in the city soggy and cold, even when we’re inside and dry. We rush to and from Metro stations and parked cars, heads ducked down, bags clutched tightly to our chests, solitary figures rushing toward any kind of shelter we can find. It occurred to me the other day that the weather outside seems to reflect the... Read more
Many have asked me to post a little reflection I shared on Sunday before our wonderful festival choir sang portions of Handel’s Messiah. As we make our way through Advent at Calvary this year our theme is Lift Every Voice and Sing–each week we’ve been considering the songs of the nativity story, with Calvary members sharing special songs that have been important in their lives. It was my turn Sunday; my reflection follows: My love affair with Handel’s Messiah began... Read more
I must thank all of you for your thoughtful comments and helpful advice in response to my recent post “Laughingstock,” in which I asked for your opinions about how to answer the request of The Daily Show to come profile Calvary. Since many of you have asked, I wanted to provide for you the rationale that finally led me to politely decline the request of one of the funniest shows on national television. When the call first came, I have... Read more
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