Someone I know very well went through a long period of time when he couldn’t get employed. The recent layoffs and elimination of federal jobs brought back my memories of his experience and how he felt hung out to dry. My friend’s prolonged unemployment plunged him into despair, marked by feelings of worthlessness, isolation, and…
Respect
My sabbatical reinforced a simple truth: everyone has a story, and respect begets respect. As a former lawyer, I learned this firsthand. The seemingly unremarkable woman collecting trash every day was a timber magnate’s widow, her fortune now funds scholarships and curing cancer. Aging and health scares have amplified this awareness. Too often, obituaries reveal…
The Truth
Today’s verse comes from Romans 1:18, “For the wrath of God is revealed from heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who by their unrighteousness suppress the truth,” and it strikes a resonant chord in our contemporary world. We inhabit an era saturated with information, yet simultaneously plagued by a profound crisis of truth.…
Deliverance
Jeremiah 1:19: “They will fight against you, but they shall not prevail against you, for I am with you, says the Lord, to deliver you.” This verse, a bedrock of divine assurance, acknowledges inevitable opposition while guaranteeing ultimate victory through God’s presence. “They will fight” reflects the reality of diverse struggles—from social ostracism to internal…
Make It Over
We made the world we’re living in and we have to make it over.” James Baldwin’s words echoed in my mind, a stark indictment and a daunting call to action. I thought of Luke 13:34, the lament for Jerusalem, and how easily those words could be transposed onto the marble and power of Washington, D.C.…