It was a week an a half ago that I met him. Let's say that his name was Isaiah. He was young, so young that I almost did a double-take. I don't think we've met before, I said. Do I know you? Do I know me? he replied, barely making eye contact. Quickly, I inferred … Continue reading People like them
Fearful, wonderful
Fearfully and wonderfully made, she said. And then, Breathe, as she plunged the needle into my back. I pressed my fingers against the wall, and made a mental note that I needed to use hand sanitizer as soon as this was over. It would be a while, because it was, as Christians say, a kairos … Continue reading Fearful, wonderful
More prayer, not less
Halfway through my third year of ministry, I tried to run away to the convent. Now, I forget the specific reason. Perhaps it was that my Annual Conference had yet to to decide if it would ordain openly gay candidates. It might have been the approaching first anniversary of my grandmother's death. Whatever the motivation, … Continue reading More prayer, not less
Christ and Chronic Pain
Like many things, chronic pain was something that I thought I understood by proxy. I had watched my grandmother suffer under the weight of her increasing affliction. As years passed, she hunched over, more and more; finding less and less relief. Sometimes, I relive the progression with photographs. My grandmother suffers from chronic back pain, … Continue reading Christ and Chronic Pain
A tale of two bathrooms
I did not plan to make my stand there - in the bathroom. Like some of you, I had dreams for my personal social-isolation. A marathon. A novel. A sonata (played, not written). For my ministry, I imagined a YouTube channel. An online framework of spiritual reflection. A how-to manual for progressive Christian activism. Then, … Continue reading A tale of two bathrooms
The art of losing takes time to master
The art of losing isn’t hard to master;so many things seem filled with the intentto be lost that their loss is no disaster. Or so says Elizabeth Bishop is in poem "One Art". In line after line she builds her case, describing in details the petty things that she loses each day; her keys, a … Continue reading The art of losing takes time to master
Scent-sensitive disciples, fraught public meetings, and acts of true compassion
The woman makes a scene. They are seated at the table. People are finishing the meal, and instead of doing something useful, like offering to bring out the after-dinner coffee, this woman basically hijacks the party. In the Gospel of John, at least it is not an unnamed random woman. Rather, it is one of … Continue reading Scent-sensitive disciples, fraught public meetings, and acts of true compassion
On this Table-Flipping Tuesday
It is one of the less celebrated days of Holy Week, just like every week: Tuesday, the day oft relegated to leftovers and drudgery. While the timeline of the Gospels is a little fuzzy, traditional monastic liturgy places Jesus' visit to the Temple (at least his visit in the synoptic Gospels) squarely on the wholly … Continue reading On this Table-Flipping Tuesday
A S’vach Holy Week
One of the few bright spots about being a pastor during this social-distancing reality is that I have the opportunity to see my colleagues' work. Certainly, many congregations (including mine) have been creating web content for years, but now, with such an emphasis on online worship, and quite a bit more time at home, I … Continue reading A S’vach Holy Week
Light of the same star
Just three months ago, on the day of Epiphany, I received my Star Word. It was just a little piece of paper, lovingly cut into the shape of a star. There were more than a hundred of them laying facedown on a small table at the front of the sanctuary. Each of them had word … Continue reading Light of the same star
Parish on Fire 