Another one in the books. Another 365 days, the slow grind of a year, that now glancing back, feels more like a runaway train. Today I take pause before the train leaves the station of 2023, and ask myself three questions. Perhaps one of these will resonate with you. Did I view myself as God does?…
A Moment with the Trinity
The Lord has given us boundless imaginations. Join me as I picture a moment with the Trinity. I see them ion’s ago; the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, sitting down at the far side of the universe to decide which one would interpret love to the soon coming human race. Each one of equal worth,…
Going to Work with Dad
My father put me to work at an early age. At six years old he gave me my first job; to carry 92 fire brick up to the second story of a home in progress. He gave me until lunch to do it. A mixture of fear and awe settled over me. Fear that if…
The Daring Dream
Christmas, the daring dream, Creeps ever closer. The silent night’s Holy birth of God, awash Into a world of angels. Children’s faces, Joy! Alighted by surprise, Squinting into mystery, Watch Him, who fell so far. Oh, sons of earth, Come! See Him, as we rehearse The daring dream of the star.
Grumpy Disciples-Contemplation’s Role in Re-creation
One of my favorite times of the day is what I call office hours. I shut the door to my office, put on piano music, light a candle, and close my eyes. The silence wraps me like a heavy blanket. My thoughts are a bundle of sharp brambles; their edges poke at me, a reminder…
Contemplation – One Step of Hope at a Time
A couple years ago, after heart issues had me in and out of the hospital, I fell into a dark place. I use the word dark to describe how sleep escaped me, and how each successive night of wide-eyed toss and turns left me weaker, more anxious and wondering if I’d ever get a full…
Contemplative Prayer-The Fire of transformation
It’s clear from scripture that God is fire. Moses stood before a burning bush, as well as followed that same pillar of fire guiding him in the desert. Tongues of fire appeared over the heads of the apostles at Pentecost. The Bible describes God as a consuming fire. Which reminds me of a little bon…
Contemplative Prayer-Seeing the Son of Man
On the day after my first son was born, I stood at the discharge counter; only KJ wasn’t going home. We needed to transfer him to the children’s hospital trauma center. The night before a kind doctor had explained to us that our son was a very sick little boy, needing 3-4 operations the first…
Contemplative Prayer-In Whose Presence?
Squeezed inside a makeshift tent in the living room, a perfect hiding place for a granddaughter’s over-worked imagination. “What’s that?” I whisper. Her eyes widen, and a thin smile parts her lips. My eyes mimic hers in widening fear as we stare at one another. “The monster’s close, don’t move a muscle,” I say. Her…
Contemplative Prayer-In Whose Arms?
For contemplative prayer to be grounded, it relies on two movements of faith. The first happens when we reach for the person of Jesus Christ in his invitation to “come.” In my mind’s eye I see his arm stretched toward me, the same way it was stretched on the cross and nailed in place. His…
Contemplative Prayer-On whose terms?
After 42 and a half years learning every aspect of prayer, I’ve decided contemplative prayer is the key to opening up vast spiritual understanding, deepening my love for God, and prying open a door to mystery which builds love between lovers, the same way secrets do between those in whom we share them. Unless we…
The Bridge…and Coming Home
The sound of the old pickup truck turning onto Flocktown road always sent a thrill up my spine. Dad was home! My brother JoJo and I would often meet him at the old stone bridge where we had spent hours catching crawdads and splashing in the creek. The older I get the more I…
To Sir, with love 