When I was in my twenties, I was uncomfortable with the importance placed on Christmas. At that time, I thought that the birth of Jesus was, well, sort of important. But everyone is born. I reasoned that what was really important is the death and resurrection of Jesus. After all,… Read More »The Tender, Vulnerable Jesus
The Christmas Story. Yes, it’s a familiar tale that fills us with a bit of sentimentality and a kind of romantic sensibility. We think of the silent night, the angelic choirs, and the star that led the magi. But when we pay close attention to the details of the story,… Read More »Christmas: Hope in Hardship
Few of us will become famous. It’s the rare person whose name goes down in history. While I drive around Atlanta, where I make my home, I see monuments to many people. But those monuments represent just a few of the people who have been here. In the scheme of… Read More »An Ordinary Life
Waiting. We all do it. At red lights. In doctor’s offices. When meeting up with friends. Waiting creates a space, an openness in our lives. Time slows as we anticipate what will come next. The experience of waiting has implications for spiritual practice, too. By creating space in our lives,… Read More »Waiting, Peace, and Hope
To call the familiar story of Ebenezer Scrooge a “holiday classic” is something of an understatement. The name “Scrooge” and his hallmark phrase “bah humbug!” are part of our lexicon. The unfolding of the story and its various apparitions led Ebenezer to have a change of heart, to experience compassion… Read More »The Ghosts of Christmases Past
Spiritual Direction: it’s an odd and confusing term. It sounds like someone is telling you what to do. Some people prefer “spiritual companion,” but that’s also confusing. That sounds like a casual friend or a “plus one” for an event. Whatever term is used, spiritual direction is an ancient practice… Read More »Making Sense of Spiritual Direction
A man talking about what it means for a woman to give birth? This seems like a topic about which women need to speak. After all, biological males can’t get pregnant and carry a fetus to term and give birth. At the same time, there are some things I’ve observed… Read More »Giving Birth to God
Work-Life balance: it’s a popular idea in corporate life today. Your work and your life should balance. That’s a pretty simple idea. Many people who put in long hours at work would agree. But wait second. Work-life balance seems to suggest that work should be balanced with everything else in… Read More »Work-Life Balance: It’s Not A Balanced Concept
