I love autumn. It is my favorite season. I love the changing leaves, the crispness in the air, savoring the first pot of chili, SEC football, mums on the porch, and all things pumpkin. I love the return to routine, the feel of soft, well-worn...
What is the first thing you think of when you hear the word, “idol?” A small statue of an animal or other object used for worship? Or perhaps a famous person who is greatly admired comes to mind—a teen heartthrob or movie star. Before the...
“What is the best thing about being part of a religious order?” a monk was once asked. “Community,” he replied. “Living with my brothers.” “And what is the hardest thing about being part of the order?” asked the questioner. “Community,” the monk replied. “Living with...
The images have been horrifying and unforgettable. Streets turned to rivers. People clinging to the tops of cars or houses. The rain and wind unrelenting. And there have been other images as well, also unforgettable, but these gladden the heart: people using anything that will...
Today marks the one year anniversary of the tragedy in Charlottesville, Virginia. We are re-posting this piece, written last August, as Christ's call to radical love,alongside conversations about racism and injustice, continue to ring true and remain urgent. Together we can do better, striving as...
My church recently experienced three instances of people asking for money—all on the same Sunday. Two people came into the building, one during worship and one after worship, and one person stood outside the church, seeking money from parishioners as they left. Our experiences that...
Saturday was a horrific, tragic day in the annals of the United States of America. Peaceful protestors were confronted with violence. A young woman lost her life simply for daring to say no to racism. A hate group gathered to spread its toxic message and...
Spirituality is intensely personal. Well, “ duh.” Of course it is, you might be thinking. What we often fail to consider, however, is that while the personal nature of faith is rather obvious, the implications are not. Educators have long made us aware that learning...
August 3, 2017 Five years ago a dear friend gave me the book, One Thousand Gifts, by Ann Voskamp. It was a delight to read and packed a profound message, inviting me to pay more attention to the graces all around me—everything from the taste...
Control. I like to be in control. Or, I at least like the illusion of control, because that’s what control is—an illusion. This love affair with control is one of the major areas in which my faith most convicts and challenges me. It’s a good process,...