My mother was never afraid to ask difficult questions. While she didn’t graduate from high school, she was inquisitive and had a very sharp mind. It should have been no surprise to me when she began to ask heavy-hitting questions about theology. I remember when she first asked about the… Read More »Re-Examining Christian Salvation
It was a question I hadn’t expected. I fumbled for an answer while another person at the table provided a more focused response. Now several days since this dinner conversation occurred, our discussion has stayed with me because of the importance of the insight contained in the brief exchange. Four… Read More »Creating Space for Another
It was something he hadn’t experienced before. I was a bit surprised by that, but it’s probably not uncommon. He told me that at age 26, it was the first time he knew someone who had died. Of course, I know that my life was a bit unusual in this… Read More »Grief: Remembering Forever
When people visit my home, they often comment about the plants growing in the various rooms of the house. They compliment me about how healthy the plants look and how well I must care for them. I accept the compliment but rarely do I share my secret to caring for house… Read More »Caring for House Plants and Spiritual Practice
Is it possible to get over our racism? As the events in Ferguson, MO continue to unfold, one has to wonder if it’s even possible for racism to be relegated to the pages of history. It’s been 150 years since the US civil war which was fought to maintain the… Read More »Moving Beyond Racism
The job was taking much longer than expected. I didn’t know enough about it to understand the problem. It was clear to me that above the drop ceiling in the family room, a bundle of cables and various electronic boxes had been stashed out of sight. Somehow, this rat’s nest… Read More »Ferguson, Racism, and Overcoming Fear
I heard the news while driving: Robin Williams was dead. The apparent cause of death was suicide. The next day it was confirmed that Mr. Williams had killed himself. Since the first announcement on August 11, we were reminded that Mr. Williams struggled with depression and had recently been hospitalized… Read More »Robin Williams: The Sad Clown?
I am in awe that all four of my grandparents were part of a great exodus to the United States. From 1890 to 1914, 70% of the immigrants to the United States were from Eastern and Southern Europe. It was an immigration phenomenon that brought 1.2 million people to the… Read More »Lessons from My Family about Immigration
