Passed Over A few times in my years as a priest I have been passed over in a search process. A few times I have been the one selected and others have been passed over. When Episcopal churches call priests, they start with a long list and whittle the list down to a few folks […]
The traditional posture of prayer is facing eastward and with good reason. The sun rises in the east and represents the great hope of the new day. No matter how crushing yesterday may have been, the sunrise indicates a new beginning. Each day we awaken to new possibilities, a new creation, a new opportunity to […]
Positive Dissatisfaction While doing some online shopping over the holidays, I came across a company touting what they described as a relentless pursuit of a better product. Always looking for improvement, they claimed “positive dissatisfaction” with themselves. Basically they were saying that their product was the best money could buy but they would keep […]
Holy Conversation Perhaps you know folks who share every thought they have. No matter how unhelpful or critical it might be, some just seem to have to say precisely what they are thinking. They blurt those things out and leave a wake of hurt feelings behind them as they move on, seemingly oblivious to their […]
Let justice roll down like water…. Peace and comfort, that’s much of what attracts us to, and keeps us in, the Christian faith. We turn to God in times of need, find God mighty to save, and are encouraged to acknowledge that God is guiding and directing us. The burdens we have been carrying and […]
Nominees for Vestry Annual Meeting – January 27, 11:15 am Each year at this time I receive a delightful surprise and am able to pass exciting news on to the parish at large. This is the season in which the Nominating Committee brings forward a slate of nominees for election to the Vestry by the […]
Writer’s Block I have to write a lot. It’s a part of my life that I thoroughly enjoy as it gives me a chance to do theological reflection on a regular basis. Enjoy it as I do, however, I am familiar with writer’s block, that feeling of not knowing exactly what to write. Years […]
Safety “The only people who change, who are transformed, are people who feel safe, who feel their dignity, and who feel loved.” – Richard Rohr I’ve heard it said that priests are change agents. We are here to help people grow and growth always involves change. My two observations about this are: 1) […]
Leisure, Work, and Prayer “The wisdom of the scribe depends on the opportunity of leisure….” (Ecclesiasticus 38.24) The apocryphal book of Ecclesiasticus contains various suggestions about the importance of wisdom, how to obtain it, and how it is evidence of God’s spirit permeating all of creation. In the 38th chapter the author helps us […]
Untimely Deaths When I was interviewing at the first church where I would serve as Rector, I was told of a physician in the congregation who wanted to meet me. “You’ll be the person who buries me,” he told me when I called on him, “so I want to get to know you fast.” […]