I am not comparing myself to Jason Bourne or anything but I am beginning to suspect a conspiracy. I recall not too long ago-last year, I believe it was-when I happened to be having an orientation session with my new pastoral intern. We were walking down a busy Washington, D.C. street together and I was animatedly talking about something (which I am quite sure was very important). I’m not sure what happened next but if I recall correctly, I suddenly... Read more
We came upon her crumpled on the living room floor in tears. Her back heaved as she sobbed. We immediately ran to her aid: “Hannah, what’s wrong? What happened?” She sat up and said: “Oh, don’t worry. I’m just practicing my death scene.” Read more
I had the passing thought once that maybe I should try my hand at writing fiction. But then, I thought, “What could I possibly make up that is weirder than my real life?” Last Sunday we held a baptism. I love baptisms. I especially loved this one because it was the baptism of someone dear to me. Administrative matters run pretty smoothly around here, mostly thanks to Paul our Church Administrator, but, as you might guess, this does not keep my... Read more
I am wondering today what the phrase “life is just a bowl of cherries” is supposed to mean anyway. There’s a bowl of cherries at my house–or, correction, there was. The cumulative result of that acquisition is: cherry stems all over the floor; slimy cherry pits (most in the garbage, some not); and children with sticky faces and stained fingers. Stained fingers touching things. Surely this result was not what the authors of that metaphor had in mind? You can... Read more
There is far too much in this book, Elizabeth Gilbert‘s Eat, Pray, Love, to mention in one small blog entry, so over the next little while (just warning you) I’ll be sharing some passages in the book that resonated with me. Haven’t read it? You must. Really. Here’s one for today, from page 61. “Generally speaking, though, Americans have an inability to relax into sheer pleasure. Ours is an entertainment-seeking nation, but not necessarily a pleasure-seeking one. Americans spend billions... Read more
I was reading the other day about all the new words and phrases that have recently been added to the dictionary of the English language. It’s nice to know those words that we use all the time (?) are now official: ginormous; netnanny; mouse potato, supersize . . . you know, those. The invention of new phrases, of course, is nothing new to me. When my kids were learning to talk they’d come up with their own versions of words... Read more
Okay.Here’s how it all went down.Some time ago, the executive director of a local group to which the church belongs sent out a mass email to clergy in the area introducing us to new a new religion reporter on the staff at the Washington Post. Well, let’s just say that I have a love/hate relationship with the press, and since my most recent run-in I’ve been working hard to fly beneath the radar and stay out of trouble. I thought... Read more
It’s that time of year again . . . you know, Vacation Bible School! If you are a church member you face this part of the summer suppressing memories of macaroni necklaces and crosses made out of toothpicks and Elmer’s glue.If you are the pastor, you work very hard to be supportive in every way excluding the creation of macaroni necklaces, and then you get busy doing everything you can to avoid recreation time (playing soccer in the gym). If... Read more
I’ve been thinking a lot about writing and the kind life-giving and often life-saving role it plays for me. Here’s what’s on my screen saver–I read it somewhere in a book and I can’t remember where now–but it seems to sum up how I feel a lot. “I drift around my rooms and write, to shadows, thinking, as I always did, that writing only can make peace, can right and heal that which a life made sordid.” Read more
I’ve long since come to terms with the unarguable reality that my job often brings me to the doorstep of deep pain . . . . . . and to the edges of a precipice overlooking some of the most wonder-filled human experiences . . . . . . and then drags me (often kicking and screaming) up and down the rocky path spanning the distance between the two. It’s one of the reasons I like my job, I think... Read more
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