How Do We Respond to Governing Authorities?
I recently listened to a sermon that Diana Butler Bass gave at this year’s Wild Goose Festival. In it, she “tackled” (her term) one of the more controversial of the apostle Paul’s statements in Romans 13:1: “Let every person be subject to the governing authorities.” I...
Pondering Pilgrimage Participation
We were in Costa Rica on August 2, which is the Feast of Our Lady of the Angels, honoring the country’s patron saint, popularly known as La Negrita. It’s estimated that as many as two million people—out of a population of 5.5 million people—participate in the Virgen...
Releasing Old Understandings of Christianity
Over the past few weeks, I’ve been pondering how we might need to let go of outdated understandings of ourselves, our nation, and our culture. A full exploration of each of those topics could fill a book—or a library! Today, I tackle another major institution with an...
The Monastic Vow of Stability
As I mentioned last week, I recently returned from some retreat time in Colorado. As I hiked among spruce and bristlecone pines, I found myself reflecting on their stationary status. I’d traveled far to spend time in their midst, but they had to stay put. In fact,...
On Finding Common Ground
I had a conversation recently on the need for and importance of finding common ground. Here in the US, I’m aware of how we increasingly self-select into tribal groups of people who hold comparable perspectives on current issues, share similar values, and discuss...
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