The gift of gratitude
A beggar sits on a box, just outside the gates of a city. The beggar cannot work and subsists on the charity of passersby. On this day, the beggar receives no handouts. Finally, one person stops, but to the disquiet…
Paying tribute to our heart
“Life itself has no meaning,” Joseph Campbell wrote. “However, each of us has meaning, and we bring it to life.” I like the paradigm shift here: meaning moves from the outside to the inside. It’s just that sometimes, we lose…
Grounding power of kindness
The cacophony in our world can be very loud. There is no argument about that.And, if we’re at all insecure about our status (our wellbeing), we are susceptible to (blinded by) public opinion, social media pressure and mob mentality. Bluntly,…
Wholehearted
Attending a conference on religion in Japan, Joseph Campbell overheard another American delegate, a social philosopher from New York, say to a Shinto priest, "We've been now to a great many ceremonies and have seen quite a few of your…
Nourished by gratitude
A businessman walks the airport concourse, on his way to baggage claim. His flight is late in arriving, and his mood is melancholy. This is the end of a long business trip; his energy spent and his emotions raw. If…
Through the eyes of grace
I know I’m not alone in feeling exhausted. Maybe drained is more accurate. (Not dissimilar to the toll the heat has taken in places around the States and in Europe.)A reminder of the gift and the replenishing power in emotional…
Brokenness is never the end
On my walk this Easter morning, I had no Sabbath Moment prepared, so, the fretting needled my spirit. There’s still a part of me that is tangled by keeping score, and melancholy on Easter is frowned upon, so is something…
Grace meets us there
Several years ago, a well-known minister was invited to give the homily at a Union Gospel Mission. The Union Gospel Mission is an urban ministry, providing food, shelter and recovery for homeless men. Before the meal, the men are invited to "attend" a church service. For the majority, if not all,…
Where healing begins
“Do you have any stories for people who feel like the world is upside down? For those of us carrying grief?” A reader asked.The answer is yes.For starters, I’m glad she asked. You see, I probably wouldn’t have. When life gets sticky…
Breathe in amazing
Welcome to a new year. People have asked about my resolutions. (I tell them I’m still working on last year’s list.) Or, with our precarious world, some ask for advice on navigating it all. (I don’t remember taking a seminary…
