Pilgrimage. The Merriam-Webster dictionary provides these two definitions of pilgrimage: • a journey to a holy place • a journey to a special or unusual place The heart of pilgrimage is a journey. Typically, the journey of a pilgrim is a physical one. In United States history we think of… Read More »Pilgrimage: Depart to Arrive
(Originally posted on November 4 2011) I mostly meant it as a joke. But there was a serious side to it. Some responded to the humorous intention. Surprisingly, it proved to elicit thoughtful comments from others. There were even a couple people who sent private messages to explore my off-handed… Read More »Quotidian Mysteries
I recently celebrated my birthday. I appreciated the well wishes from others and the humorous jabs made about my age. It’s all part of the fun. One comment, from a friend I’ve known for nearly 30 years, stuck out in particular. In the midst of a group of people, he… Read More »Embracing Age: The Last Quarter of Life
Spiritual Direction. It’s an odd term. It refers to a practice in which one person tends to another as a companion for the spiritual journey. The “direction” aspect of “spiritual direction” is what makes the term awkward. A wise spiritual director doesn’t direct anything. At best, an experienced spiritual director… Read More »Spiritual Direction and Healing the Soul
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
My understanding of life has changed a great deal since I was a child. I remember learning about evolution in grade school. The evolution of life on Earth was depicted as a seamless process with one form of life evolving to the next until human beings emerged. I also learned… Read More »Cosmology: The Spiritual Implications
Spring: it’s fresh, green, and full of promise. It’s with optimism that I spend what time I can in the yard, clearing the debris from winter, preparing the ground, and planting both flowers and vegetables in the garden. What will this season of planting and new growth bring? Will there… Read More »The Spring Garden
I’ve taught in graduate programs for over twenty years. It doesn’t seem like a long time until I make a statement like that. While every job has its ups and downs, overall I really enjoy teaching. Currently, most of the courses I teach are about research methods in social science.… Read More »Where’s the Evidence?
