This past week, I had the opportunity to hear a pitch for a fellowship that focuses on developing community leaders for the work of social transformation. It was more inspiring than it sounds. At the hart of the fellowship was the idea of empathy, or, as Oxford defines it, the ability to understand and share … Continue reading The limits of empathy →

On March 15, the Vatican announced that it won't bless same-sex unions, because, as they say "God does not and cannot bless sin". (Quick aside: It's interesting to consider that, after all, there is one thing the [allegedly] omnipotent creator of the universe cannot do.) This statement should have surprised no one. But it did. … Continue reading Homosexuality, homelessness, curses, and blessings →

This morning, at 7:00 am, there was a woman in a dark blue North Face jacket walking two fluffy white dogs in the pristine green space the neighborhood behind Safeway. I begin the story with her, because she must be more important than anyone else I encountered this morning. Otherwise, the story makes no sense. … Continue reading The pristine green space behind Safeway →