The events of the last two weeks have given me a great deal to think about. Two weeks ago, the country was poised in vigil waiting the announcement from the Grand Jury in St. Louis on whether changes would be made against Officer Darren Wilson for the shooting of Michael… Read More »Advent and the Challenge of Ferguson
Thanksgiving Dinner: friends and family gather; recipes are shared; people travel great distances to be with loved ones. There’s something unique and special about the American Thanksgiving holiday. I have fond memories of Thanksgiving from my childhood, with my mother making a unique stuffing for the turkey as well as… Read More »A Difficult Conversation for Thanksgiving Dinner
He’s an experienced social worker. Now in his mid-thirties, he’s taken a position as the leader of a crisis team in his urban county. He and his team could be called on to stabilize mental health related crises anywhere in the county. This was the kind of job he really… Read More »Compassion and Compassion Fatigue
(Originally posted on November 4 2011) I mostly meant it as a joke. But there was a serious side to it. Some responded to the humorous intention. Surprisingly, it proved to elicit thoughtful comments from others. There were even a couple people who sent private messages to explore my off-handed… Read More »Quotidian Mysteries
This week, guest blogger Chris Shea considers the tension of living in the midst of information overload and how we can find happiness. Chris is a therapist, chaplain, and retreat leader. He’s written numerous books and articles. He also maintains a blog titled lifesjourney. To learn more about Chris and… Read More »lifesjourney with Chris Shea
As I left church this past Sunday, one of the members of the congregation called to me in the parking lot. She was sitting in her car and had lowered the passenger window to talk to me. She’s a kindly woman in her 70’s who sits toward the front each… Read More »All Hallows: A Holy Remembrance
I met her at her home a few evenings ago. As we visited, she spoke about him frequently. She also referred to things around the house that she has now been doing – things he used to do – which she hadn’t done for years: yard work, home repairs, and… Read More »Clumping: How Much Can One Person Bear?
It was a lovely autumn day. I sat on the front porch swing and watched as squirrels continued their collection of items to store for winter. Birds from farther North arrived in the South, nesting in shrubs and on trees, or resting on the telephone wires overhead. Occasionally, a breeze… Read More »Autumn Reflections from the Porch Swing
