I spent just over two decades as a parish minister. It was work that brought out the best in me, that forced me to ask more questions, live with more ambiguity, dive a little deeper, reach a little further, love a little more than I might otherwise have done. Those two decades were harder and …
Think for a moment about the photos you throw away…versus the ones you put in a photo album, or reprint as your annual holiday card, or frame and hang on your wall. I’ve been going through photos this week. Our daughter needs some for a project she is doing with me. My computer wallpaper needs …
Spoiler Alert: On Wednesday, I was feeling tender and pastoral and the blog that day reflected that. Today I am cranky and channeling one of the Hebrew prophets…so read further at your own risk. I would like to suggest in the strongest possible terms without actually resorting to profanity that any- and everyone of us …
I didn’t write a blog for 5 August when we were traveling; this is for both weeks. (I don’t want you to think you missed anything.) Last Wednesday, my husband and I returned to our home in Denver almost four months to the day after we left for his sabbatical. The same wonderful friend who …
The full moon last night was a Blue Moon (as in the phrase ‘once in a blue moon’). I have used that expression since I first heard it from my grandmother when I was a little girl and I even know what it means. It is the second full moon in a calendar month. Well, …
This morning, I woke to the smell of the ocean and the gentle shhuuush of waves lapping against rocks. In the soft grey pre-dawn, I am enfolded in the fog and mist of the coast of Maine. We are spending a few days with my in-laws, drinking in the last bit of seashore for awhile. …
In advance of the Pope’s visit to the United States, several of the larger polling organizations have noted that his US approval ratings are dropping. In fact, among conservative Roman Catholics and political conservatives (two groups with a substantial overlap) the numbers are plummeting. Within minutes of being elected, it was clear that Francis was …
First: A very happy birthday to my brother…who is leaning forward into a new year today. I don’t know about you, but I tend to approach thresholds with many surreptitious glances over my shoulder…sometimes walking backwards into the doorframe in the process. Over my life, as I have prepared to transition from one role to …
…and time. When emergency medical technicians or paramedics respond to the scene of an accident, one of the first things they do with the accident victims is to ask them a series of questions to ascertain whether they are still in touch with reality. The term that is used is “oriented times three.” A person …
We are on the road again…this time from Edinburgh to London where, if all goes smoothly, we will meet friends for dinner tonight. If it doesn’t go smoothly, we will probably be sitting in traffic on the M5. Yesterday was devoted to rounding up all the things that some of you [I am not going …