Recently, I watched the movie, Are You There, God? It’s Me, Margaret.” The movie is based on Judy Blume’s book of the same title. Since I’ve never read the book, I’d like to be clear that I’m writing about the movie. I don’t know how closely it follows the book. The movie opens in 1970. Margaret, a rising sixth grader, has just had a wonderful vacation at camp, and is eager to return to her familiar school in New York. But, not so…
When you say “Hello” to someone, you are breaking in to a conversation they are always having with themselves. John Quinn These words are from Walking in Wonder: Eternal Wisdom for a Modern World, by John O’Donohue in conversation with John Quinn on Irish radio (p. 158). They stopped me in my reading tracks. I knew, as we all do, that everyone has a point of view. What O’Donohue’s remark highlights is that everyone’s point of view is dynamic. It’s moving. It’s breathing.…
And he cometh unto the disciples, and findest them asleep, and saith unto Peter, What, could ye not watch with me one hour? Matthew 26:40, KJV Attention is the rarest and purest form of generosity. Simone Weill, twentieth century philosopher In his dark hour before being arrested and condemned, Jesus wanted his companions to stay awake and be with him, but they could not. The English words watch and wake are related, which makes perfect sense. If you’re going to watch something, you’d…
Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:22-23 NIV)When I first started working in the public schools, I drove myself crazy collecting discarded jackets and lunch kits when I had playground duty after school. I waved coats at kids hurrying by to meet buses or parents, hoping that someone would recognize their lost property. They rarely did.After the buses had left and the playground was…
My favorite social medium is the podcast. I have a variety of podcasts I follow, including several that are religious or spiritual. One of these is the Inverse podcast, available on Apple podcasts, and hosted by Jarrod McKenna in Australia and Drew Hart in the United States.Drew and Jarrod always get the conversation rolling with their guests by asking them to share Bible verses that are especially meaningful to them.In the episode that aired on November 17, 2022, their guest was Lisa McNair,…
Or The People Who Guide UsThis is a photo of Ruth, Ethel, and Isabel, my grandmother and her two sisters, taken around 1910, in Youngstown, Ohio, where all three girls were born. I love the quality of the early twentieth century black and white portrait photography. This image gives me a feeling of three human stories suspended in time.The large hair bows were a style of the day. I’ve seen them in illustrations of children’s books from the same period. The girls’ lacy…
Readings for the Fourth Sunday in AdventIsaiah 7:10-16; Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19; Romans 1:1-7; Matthew 1:18-25The readings for the fourth Sunday of Advent help me put my feelings about Christmas in perspective. It’s almost a cliché to say that the “most wonderful time of the year” is anything but for some of us. Ho hum, you may say. What makes your disenchantment with Christmas special? So what if there’s a yawning gap between the Hallmark Channel and your emotional life. Who doesn’t feel overwhelmed?…
I enjoyed Halloween this year. I started the evening with a large supply of candy, and ended it with an empty bowl. I ran out of candy just before the trick-or-treaters stopped coming, and had to pass out small bags of chips to the last few children. It was actually exciting to run out of candy. That hasn’t happened to me in years.The kids and their parents showed a lot of creativity in creating costumes and I complimented a number of the older…
Lectionary Readings for September 11, 2023The lectionary readings for this Sunday, September 11, show how repentance is the bridge we must travel from our sinfulness to God’s mercy. These themes are explored in four different contexts, starting with a story of God’s wrath and ending with a story of God’s infinite patience and love.The first reading is Exodus 32:7-14. Moses and God are communing on the holy mountain while Moses’ people, feeling abandoned because Moses has been away from them too long, make…
One of the scripture readings for June 15 is the first chapter of the Book of Daniel. It sets the scene for Daniel’s experience as a prisoner of the Babylonians. Daniel and three other Israelite prisoners are chosen to work in the king’s service. The Babylonians serve them food that they could not eat if they wanted to follow the dietary laws of Moses. Daniel leads them in rejecting the non-kosher food. The four young men eat only vegetables, but thrive, because God…
In preparing to write this devotion, I checked the lectionary selections for this week and was led to Chapter 5 of the Book of Revelation. The bold imagery pulled me in and I read more. The scene where St. John describes his vision of the Lamb that was slain, standing amid the four fantastic creatures and the twenty-four elders captured my imagination. He came and took the scroll from the right hand of him who sat on the throne. And when he had…
Verses 1-8 of Psalm 63 are included in this week’s lectionary readings. They express spiritual longing that is like physical longing.O God, you are my God, I seek you,My soul thirsts for you;My flesh faints for you,As in a dry and weary land where this is no water.The psalmist’s soul is thirsty and his body faints with longing like the longing for water. What is the difference between the physical and the spiritual? Does it matter? The psalmist’s whole being, physical and spiritual,…
When the news of Sidney Poitier’s death came out, I thought about how long it had been since I’d seen him perform, and then I realized I had never seen Lilies of the Field, the 1963 film that won him the Academy Award for Best Actor, so I watched it on Amazon Prime Video. It’s an uplifting story with a strong Christian message. It doesn’t insult your intelligence. I recommend it, although it’s in black and white, has no computer graphics, no explosions,…
Take therefore no thought for the morrow, for the morrow shall take thought for the things of itself. Sufficient unto the day is the evil thereof. Matthew 6:30, KJV I quoted the King James Version of this famous saying of Jesus because it is the one I grew up with. My mother often referred to it and that is how I best remember it. Our civilization depends on complex planning and management. This may give us the illusion that we can control the…
We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully. (Romans, 12:6-8, NIV)This is the season of giving. We’re used to it. We shop.…
Thirty years ago, I belonged to a Presbyterian church in Oakland, California. The congregation was mostly elderly. When Pastor Carl asked us to stand, he added, “If you are able.” This church had an intimate atmosphere created by lifelong Christians comfortable with their faith. I enjoyed the short walk from my home to the one Sunday service. It was nice to worship with all the members at the same time.Every voice counted in that small congregation, so I always tried to lend my…
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—thing about such things.(Philippians 4:6-8, NIV)One morning, as I prayed for members of my family, I realized how much anxiety…
On one of the hot days we’ve endured this summer, I suddenly pictured Hagar and Ishmael in the wilderness, unprotected from the scorching heat.Ishmael was Abraham’s (then Abram) first son. When Sarah (then Sarai) despaired of bearing a child, she gave Hagar, her Egyptian slave, to Abram, hoping that Hagar would be able to conceive a child.Once Hagar became pregnant, she looked down on Sarai for being infertile. Sarai made Hagar’s life miserable, and Hagar ran away into the wilderness. Imagine a pregnant…
A friend recently expressed dismay about a family member’s hoarding habits. This made me reflect on my father's parents. My grandparents were not hoarders in the reality TV sense, as their home was always neat and clean. However, it was stuffed with various collections of objects they treasured, but rarely used. Where they hit the hoarder mark was with their gem and mineral collection. During the Depression, they studied the rocks they picked up on desert rambles in southeastern California. It was a…
This is a story about how I found spiritual support on the internet during the first part of the Covid crisis. First, I make a disclaimer. Social media activities that work for me may not be helpful or appropriate for you. Please use the internet with discernment and caution!In the middle of March, 2020, the Treasure Valley started a Covid lockdown. We all experienced abrupt changes. The last day I worked as a substitute teacher was March 12. Our lockdown was announced a…
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.Philippians 4:8, NIVThis verse from Philippians is one of my watchwords. It’s a verse that raises my spirits.The problem is, it dropped out of my mind in the last year. Covid-19, which is far from over, drove it out of my consciousness.The verse quoted above is actually part of Paul’s closing exhortation in his letter to…
Spring has come again. The earth is like a child, who knows poems; oh, so many . . . Rainer Maria Rilke, Sonnets to Orpheus Last fall, I planted daffodil bulbs in the front flower bed of the house I had just purchased. I was so excited about having my own home, and being able to plant bulbs again, I sent away for over 200 bulbs. When they arrived, I started digging holes, and discovered that the bark mulch was covering a concrete-like…
I’ll start with a compliment to Culver’s restaurant in Meridian. A friend and I recently indulged in the turtle sundae at Culver’s, and I have nothing but praise for that taste treat.The employee who took our order gave us the “young lady” discount, which we happily accepted. As we took our sundaes to the outdoor seating area, I observed to my friend that my white hair must be a guarantee of senior discounts. People probably assume I won’t be offended by being offered…
Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts…
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