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
Advent: the season of waiting has begun. Over the four weeks leading to Christmas, the tradition for Christians is to wait, to prepare, and to anticipate the coming of Christ. Even amid the commercialization of Christmas, our spiritual practice is to pause, be still, and experience quiet as we wait.… Read More »Advent: The Waiting Begins
Giving thanks. In North America, we ritualize our gratitude with a Thanksgiving holiday. In Canada, the holiday occurs in early October. In the US, it’s late November. Of course, expressing gratitude is more than just a day. Many spiritual writers understand that gratitude is a basic foundation for living life… Read More »Thanksgiving and Giving
We’re told to set goals for ourselves, to dream big, and strive to achieve those goals. While I don’t question that advice, per se, my experience is that day-to-day my life isn’t about achieving big goals. Instead, I find that each day I’m taking a few steps, sometimes I’m not… Read More »Hiking Trails, Achieving Goals, and Spiritual Practice
Freedom and Liberty. We hear the words used a great deal today. In many ways, they are key values in Western culture. For the French, liberty is understood in the context of equality and fraternity. In the United States, the phrase “liberty and justice for all” is a similar bedrock… Read More »Freedom and Liberty: The Spiritual Dimension of Cultural Values
