The year was 1971. We sat in a classroom with desks in straight rows. The high school guidance counselor walked in as a hush fell upon the room. After dumping books and papers on the desk, he went to the chalk board and wrote, “Know Thyself.” The “guidance” class required… Read More »Exercise and Self-Knowledge: Dimensions of the Spiritual Path
In the mid 1980’s, I read a novel by May Sarton: Anger. Because her autobiographic work, The Journal of a Solitude, touched me deeply, I hoped her novel exploring expressions of anger would help me sort out my own experience of anger. Anger is an emotion which has complicated my… Read More »Anger: A Signal for Change
Over the last month, I’ve made weekly trips beyond the suburbs along a bumpy road far from the busy city. While it’s a drive out of my way, it’s a trip I look forward to. I always find something I didn’t expect – something good to bring home. My destination:… Read More »Gratitude for Being Sustained
How can we recognize a spiritual person? What might we look for in ourselves as a sign of spiritual growth or maturity? In what way should religious beliefs influence the quality of a person’s life? As I reflect on these questions, I look to my own spiritual and religious heritage… Read More »Spiritual Growth: Where Do Love and Hate Fit In?
It’s often said that religion and spirituality are fundamentally different. The arguments for this position go something like this. Religion is about dogma, fixed beliefs, and rituals to which people must adhere. Spirituality is individualized, focused on experience, and free flowing. At face value, there’s something to be said for… Read More »Religion and Spirituality: How Different Are They?
I found her to be nothing less than amazing: bright, engaged, open to new ideas, and about seventy years of age. I wasn’t sure from her gray hair, but I bet she was probably a red head in her youth. She had a fiery spirit as well as a deep… Read More »The Younger Generation: A Perspective on Changing Spiritual Values
Often times, when people talk about spirituality, it sounds like spirituality is something “out there” or something one needs to get. Other times, people will refer to activities or events as being “spiritual” or “not spiritual.” For example, meditation is spiritual but hanging out at a corner bar is not… Read More »Exploring the Spiritual Dimension of Self
It’s not something I had previously said in a sermon or congregational meeting . It’s one of those things that I’ve said to friends and colleagues but when with general church members, I’ve held my tongue. But a few Sunday’s ago, the level of my frustration was rising and the… Read More »Am I a Buddhist?
