The perfect storm Usually, a period of calm follows a storm. And often we see a rainbow in the sky. From an early age, children are told in church that the rainbow represents a sign of God’s promise to us. We often spare children the harsh bits of the story of Noah and the Ark… Read More
Stay awhile, O Stranger, for the night has been long and cruel and our souls are not yet wrung dry from weeping. Stay awhile, O Stranger, for the fires are raging on cultic altars built to sacrifice precious fruit to ravenous gods. Stay awhile, O Stranger, for the day has burned our eyes with violence… Read More
Holy One, We are struggling, and the weight of loss and grief is breaking us. The waves of injustice upon injustice, violence upon violence are drowning our hearts. We pour out our questions of “why’s” and “why not’s”. We look for answers within our own understanding and experience… and there is nothing. We have chosen… Read More
Breathing in, I know I am breathing, alive, lungs full, ready to speak, to shout. Bless my breathing out, the words my breath will carry. Breathing in, I feel my ribs expanding, I am in my body, my living body, steady. Bless my breathing out, the rooting down to stand. Breathing in I feel my… Read More
My friend Dayalan Devanesen, director of Roofs for the Roofless, of Chennai, India, sent me a photo of Gurdon Brewster’s sculpture given to him by his mother. It is ‘Christ Dancing Off the Cross’. On the last of the waiting nights for whatever the “power” is going to be, it seems important to hold carefully… Read More
Holy Spirit, Holy Breath- Our black neighbors can’t breathe. The ones in power have knees cutting into their necks robbing them of air and of many tomorrows. Our black neighbors can’t breathe. They wonder what the “nice white lady” will say when she calls the police for no reason. And then what will happen… Our… Read More
Elections Illnesses [Un]natural disasters Policing Racism Transphobia Anti-Blackness Patriarchy Anti-Immigrant …this and more … …has me playing the theme song from “Harriet” on repeat this Wednesday, O God. And praying, praying, praying… But I know that this is not enough So I am asking for energy to keep standing up I am asking for courage… Read More
I’ve recently become aware of an organization called The National Institute for Civil Discourse because they launched a “Golden Rule 2020” campaign on November 3. Many mainline denominational leaders participated in the gathering that led to this campaign and subsequently endorsed it. As a result, in my social media feeds, people I respect offered very… Read More
This weekend was the Autumn Equinox in the northern hemisphere, that mid-point between the great exhalation of light between the summer and winter solstices, a time to honor balance and the gifts of both light and dark, so necessary for the flourishing of life. We honored the equinox with a simple ritual of giving thanks… Read More
The Pastoral is Political – Borders I am writing this at the start of a holiday. My hubby and I love traveling. Each year we decide where we are heading and I get planning. I can spend hours looking at flight options and reading reviews of accommodation options. I always aim to get a good… Read More
