The problems of the world can be overwhelming to us: the climate crisis, refugees and asylum seekers, and violence. How can we begin to grasp the enormity of the world’s problems from the perspective of the spiritual dimension of our lives? The following is a text version of this blog.… Read More »The Overwhelming Problems of the World
It’s an old Eastern European custom. I’m not sure if it’s still practiced in Slavic countries today, but it’s something we did when I was young. On the day after Easter, Bright Monday, men and boys would splash, sprinkle, or squirt water on unsuspecting women while announcing, “Christ is risen!” … Read More »Fifty Days: To Life!
Taking rituals and ceremonies that aren’t yours and using them contrary to their original purpose: this form of cultural appropriation commonly happens with spiritual practice. In a time when interspirituality has become common, what is important to consider about the appropriation of the beliefs and rituals of others? The following… Read More »Spiritual Appropriation: Exploiting the Rituals of Others
Growing up during the Cold War Era in a family proud of its Eastern European heritage and belonging to an ethnic Eastern European church, there was a story I heard periodically around Easter time. The story made its way into sermons and was sometimes repeated in family gatherings. As the… Read More »Making Sense of the Resurrection of Jesus Today
The cycle is all around us. Life, death, and new life characterize existence as we know it. Perhaps by being more attentive to this cycle we can learn to flow with the changing rhythms of life and embrace life’s richness in each moment. The following is a text version of… Read More »Cycles of Living, Dying, and Rising
Crucifixion: truly a brutal, violent way to kill another human being. A person hangs naked on a cross with lungs filling with fluid, struggling to breathe, and then succumbing after hours of struggle to the inevitable last gasp and death. All the while, one’s suffering is a public spectacle. Such… Read More »Making Sense of the Crucifixion of Jesus
Enlightenment. Spiritual growth. Personal fulfillment. While many people pursue these aspects of growth, is there a dark side to this quest? The following is a text version of this posting. It’s a multi-billion-dollar industry. People who are rich and poor alike spend huge sums of money on it. What do… Read More »The Dark Side of the Quest for Enlighenment
Extravagance: that’s not something we usually associate with Lent. Yet, extravagance is key to understanding the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. To be extravagant, to be lavish, to be imprudent, to be over the top and do something no one else would do — yes, these are all key… Read More »The Extravagance of Lent
