In my last post I wrote that from my place of white privilege, the lament psalms don't seem to apply much to me at the moment. Instead I find myself resonating and praying them with those who are struggling with racial injustice and for all people who with them are working for change. Protests continue around the nation and world, and some of my colleagues and neighbors will … [Read more...] about Protests and an “Island of Peace”
2020
Psalms from the Underside
On most mornings I begin a time of prayerful quiet by reading a psalm. I often write in my journal my personal prayers that sprout out of the psalmists' thoughts---things that I am struggling with or perhaps celebrating in my own life. But over the last couple of weeks there has been a shift. I have hit a stretch of psalms, 52-64, that have slowed me down, one after … [Read more...] about Psalms from the Underside
War and Peace of a Beloved Beast
I wrote a "book" of Chester's and my adventures on our pilgrim walk from D.C. to Pittsburgh on the C&O Canal/Allegheny Passage Bike trail while for sabbatical I was learning the Gospel of John by heart. That was twelve years ago. Today I said good-bye to Chester as he settled in for his final sleep. This story seems appropriate. Some of you have heard pieces of it in … [Read more...] about War and Peace of a Beloved Beast
When I Forget to Breathe
When we are born we inhale our first breath. When we die we exhale our last breath. In between we are called to notice the holy gift of breathing. Why holy? In Hebrew the word for breath is “ruach,” and it can mean breath, wind and spirit. In the beginning of creation the ruach of God moved over the waters. (Genesis 1) A wind? A breath? A spirit? It's up to your … [Read more...] about When I Forget to Breathe
“I Am Keeping My Promise”
We were on the early days of our hike on the AT through Virginia. Because we had only been on the trail for a few days, everything was still new on this beautiful early May morning in 2015. We were discovering Jack-in the-Pulpits and morel mushrooms and wild columbines. But we were also making our way through a jumble of small but close mountains called the “roller … [Read more...] about “I Am Keeping My Promise”