In 2009 when I was living in Seattle, I had the once-in-a-lifetime privilege to see Dr. Maya Angelou.  A teacher colleague had a ticket to see her in a small church venue, but he was unable to attend.  He graciously offered the ticket to me.  I could not tell you a single word that she … Continue reading Imago Dei →

Tonight is a night of extremes.  We began with our Agape Meal, breaking bread together, laughing, sharing stories, reuniting in that specific space after many years of not having this meal.  The meal is a time of beloved community.  And now we have moved into this space of the Maundy Thursday Service.  During this service … Continue reading The Dragon is Us →

There was once a velveteen rabbit, and in the beginning he was really splendid. He was fat and bunchy, as a rabbit should be; his coat was spotted brown and white, he had real thread whiskers, and his ears were lined with pink sateen. On Christmas morning, when he sat wedged in the top of … Continue reading All Soul’s Day Interment Service →

I remember when I was in college I wanted to be a counselor.  Differences in how people respond to situations fascinated me, and I particularly enjoyed abnormal psychology. I also enjoyed child psychology, nature versus nurture, and how children reacted during different circumstances and to various types of people.  And, how situations in childhood could … Continue reading Why do you stay? →

Flannery O’Conner wrote, “There is a moment in every story in which the presence of grace can be felt as it waits to be accepted or rejected even though the reader may not recognize this moment.” We have been talking the last few weeks about Jesus being the Bread of Life and what that looks … Continue reading How should I live? →

There is a poem by Portia Nelson that tells the story of self-discovery.  It goes something like this: I walk down the street. There is a deep hole in the sidewalk. I fall in. I am lost… I am helpless. It isn’t my fault. It takes forever to find a way out. I walk down … Continue reading What should we do now? →

It was Winnie the Pooh who said, “Some people say that nothing is impossible.  Well, I do nothing every day.”   It was Audrey Hepburn who said, “I have to be alone very often. I’d be quite happy if I spent from Saturday night until Monday morning alone in my apartment. That’s how I refuel.” … Continue reading What do you mean I have to stop? →

There’s a story written by a brilliant, moral fiber of our American South.  An author of significant renown who, upon hearing about the death of a neighbor, said, “I did not attend his funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying that I approved of it.”  This witty man of significant depth of character, two … Continue reading What should I ask for? →

Thomas Wolfe wrote an incredible story about a man named George Webber.  George, our protagonist of the story, writes a scandalous yet, from his perspective, accurate reflection of his experiences growing up in deep-south Libya Hill.  Initially, when news of a hometown boy’s story gets published, the town is overjoyed that one of their own … Continue reading Who does he think he is? →