Over the past three weeks on this blog, I’ve pondered faith, hope, and love. Today, as Christians begin Holy Week, I want to return to the theme of love (which is, according to Paul, the greatest of the three). A wise teacher is always learning, and during Lent I’ve...
I was listening recently to a brief video interview of the composer Arvo Pärt. He spoke of how music is an understanding, empathetic friend, forgiving and of comfort. Music offers liberation and flight. He’s woven his life around music until it infuses his very being....
Over the past week, the American news has been filled with talk of first anniversaries related to the pandemic: churches and workplaces closing, masks appearing, people hunkering down around the world. It was a time of much uncertainty and many unknowns. One year...
Last Saturday, I led a virtual Lent retreat day online. As I was preparing for it, I found myself writing down a lot of questions. (Some of them formed the shape of the retreat.) I thought I would share the questions today and invite you to ponder more deeply how we...
This week Christians celebrate Ash Wednesday. A few years ago, I pondered ashes on this blog (and I encourage you to read what I wrote then). This year, the fallout from COVID-19 pulls me in somewhat different directions, but the ashes remain central. Ash Wednesday is...