Sometimes when I try to share a thought, I realize I’ve slipped into a tone that sounds a bit too much like a lecture. That is never my intent; I’m the last person who should ever preach to anyone. It’s a habit I recognize, and all I can do is acknowledge it and strive to…
A Call To Presence
The Lord shall watch over your going out and your coming in, from this time forth for evermore. — Psalm 121:8. The assurance found in Psalm 121:8 is one of the most comforting promises in scripture. It speaks directly to our need for a balm during those “dark nights of the soul” when we feel most…
The Open Book and the Guarded Gate
Readers of The Pew may recall the series on Grandmother Dannye’s Bible. Her Bible still holds a place of honor on my bookcase, and I often refer to her handwritten notes about a particular passage. She belonged to a generation where personal ownership of a Bible—and taking it to church on Sunday—was a given. Suzy’s…
Jane Goodall: On Cabbages, Kings, and Compassion
It’s often the simplest sentiments that capture the most profound spirits. Jane Goodall once mused on the pure joy of shared human connection: “It feels so heavenly to be able to just sit in front of the fire & talk for hours — of cabbages & kings — poetry, literature, art, music, philosophy, religion. It’s…
Don’t Blame The Lettuce
Sometime a gem drops in your lap. Suzy and I still get the Bulletin from our old church in DC — St. John’s. This morning they sent out the following by Thich Nhat Hanh. I don’t need to elaborate: “When you plant lettuce, if it does not grow well, you don’t blame the lettuce. You…