Compassion and Peace in a Confusing World
During the Christmas season, Christians reflect on the word “peace.” In the faith tradition, Christ is the Messiah and the Prince of Peace. We sing of sleeping in “heavenly peace,” and wish “Peace on earth, good will to all” in the hymn, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear. The advantage of using this word for the blog… Continue reading Thoughts for a New Year
I read a newspaper article this week that reminded me of Mexico’s Sunday (November 1) commemoration of The Day of the Dead, the traditional visits to graveyards. Last year they had to forgo the Day because of the pandemic. The Day of the Dead provides symbolic means to outwardly honor the lives of their deceased loved… Continue reading Dia De Los Muertos
Last week President Biden spoke before the United Nations. His speech addressed, among other issues, the urgency related to the pandemic and the climate. This quote was featured in the Wall Street Journal: “Our shared grief is a poignant reminder that our collective future will hinge on our ability to recognize our common humanity and to… Continue reading Common Humanity
“Pay attention to the things that bring a tear to your eye or a lump in your throat because they are signs that the holy is drawing near.” Frederick Buechner A fellow church member and friend of mine approached me with a question a few years ago that I still think about. He was in… Continue reading Healing Tears
“Life must be lived forward, but can only be understood backward.” Soren Kierkegaard When writing about grief and loss, I often refer to the work of my mentor, Dr. Alan Wolfelt. Alan developed The Six Reconciliation Needs of Mourners which I used regularly when speaking with the bereaved. Recently, I’ve been thinking about the importance of one… Continue reading Memories
Sometime during the next year or maybe the next decade, someone may well ask you, “How did you live through the coronavirus pandemic and the post-pandemic?” The question may be from a neighbor down the street, or a grandchild asking for a writing project at school. How will you answer the question? The events of… Continue reading What Will We Say?
The church I attend has introduced parking lot fellowship as an idea of easing into personal interaction. The gatherings are in the form of a drive-in where we get together for a meal outdoors, listen to music and play games. The most recent event was a blend of social distancing and masks, and an occasional… Continue reading Re-Entry
My mind and heart have not been “at peace” over the past few weeks. Our country continues to experience mass and individual shootings which, when added to horrendous past episodes, suggest hate and racial injustice abound. In addition, several friends have recently experienced pain, heartache, and loss. All of this has weighed heavily on my… Continue reading Feeling Hurt
I have written a good bit these past few months about the on-going pandemic and the possibility of its long-lasting impact on the millions of people. The obvious and direct impact has been the well over half-million deaths resulting from the COVID-19 virus. The Washington Post has published a beautiful tribute of stories about victims of this disease… Continue reading What Can We Do?
I was excited a year ago at this time of Lent. I was serving as the Parish Visitor and Commissioned Pastor at my Presbyterian church and I was asked to share in the leadership of our Ash Wednesday worship service, a Christian tradition which begins the Lenten season, 40 days before Easter. Congregational members during… Continue reading For Such a Time as This
At Peace 