Category: Reflection
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Resisting The Forces Of Death – An Ash Wednesday Reflection
Imagine you come to my house and I greet you at the door by saying, “I don’t hate you.” What would you think of that? What feelings might it bring up? What tone would it set for our time together? Maybe it’s just me but that’s how I hear the beginning of the Proper Liturgy… Read more
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Going To Pharaoh- A Reflection On Martin Luther King, Jr. Day
In the Episcopal Church the Feast of Martin Luther King, Jr., is celebrated on April 4, the date of his death. One of the things that strikes me about the gospel assigned for that day (Luke 6:27-36) is just how much Jesus sounds like Martin Luther King, Jr. “Love your enemies, do good to those… Read more
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Making A Pledge To Normalcy
Late last Friday afternoon I went for a bike ride. I chased dirt roads through a neighborhood forest, spooked some deer, enjoyed cool weather, and kept an eye on the cloudy and darkening skies. My only goal was to get back to my truck before the sun set. It felt nice to be out and… Read more
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By Another Road – An Epiphany Reflection On Matthew 2:1-12
A couple of weeks ago I had a dream that has stuck with me, asking for some attention and consideration. Toward the end of the dream, I decide to go home. The road home is on the other side of a small hill. I’m on my bike and when I get to the top of… Read more
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What’s Your Here And Now Christmas Story?
You know the usual Christmas story (Luke 2:1-20). It happened “in those days” when Emperor Augustus issued a decree to “all the world.” He was pretty full of himself. It happened “in that region” where shepherds were living in the fields and working the night shift. They were neither imperial nor august. They were, rather,… Read more
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Lessons From A Sunrise
I need to see the sun rise. I said it first to myself then I said it aloud to others. I knew it would rise but I had to make sure, to remind myself. I needed to bear witness to the dawn of a new day and let it bear witness that I am here,… Read more
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I Offer My Tears – Prayers For Israel And Gaza
By geography they are Israelis and Gazans. By ethnicity they are Jews and Arabs. By religion they are Jewish and Muslim. By history they are enemies. At least, that’s what I’ve been told. I wish it were that simple. I wish I could draw a bright line between who is right and who is wrong.… Read more
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And What About You, O God? – My Lament On The First Anniversary Of The Uvalde Shooting
Shortly after Easter I attended a retreat that focused on creativity and spirituality. In one of the workshops we were invited to write our own psalm. I knew that I would write about the mass shooting that occurred in Uvalde May 24, 2022, and the upcoming first anniversary of that tragedy. I was surprised by… Read more
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Living In Suspense – A Sermon On John 10:22-30
“How long will you keep us in suspense?” the religious leaders ask Jesus in today’s gospel (John 10:22-30). I suspect we’ve all had times of suspense in our lives and we’ve all asked that question, whether of Jesus or someone else. Sometimes we experience suspense as a time of excited waiting and expectation. It’s the… Read more
Interrupting the Silence 