Author: happylutheran

I am the president at Wartburg Theological Seminary, my beloved alma mater. I am an inveterate optimist, runner, vegetarian, and harp player. I love Mary Oliver and Gerard Manley Hopkins, and like them, I'm continually delighted by all the surprising and wonderful ways God shows up in the world.

Sanctuary, Religious Freedom & the 8th Commandment

Posted in Immigration, Politics, Social IssuesLeave a comment

This morning, I heard the story on NPR about a woman who has sought sanctuary in a Denver church in order to avoid deportation–here is the link:  Colorado Church offers Sanctuary.  In the story, the concept of religious freedom was mentioned, which the new administration has promised to uphold; but a spokesperson who opposes the…… Continue reading Sanctuary, Religious Freedom & the 8th Commandment

Reflections on a Topography of Terror

Posted in Germany, History, Holocaust, Travel, World War II2 Comments

  I’m trying to get my thoughts together here in the first week of Trump’s presidency.  It’s hard, because I am feeling so rattled, so apprehensive, and frankly, so sick to my stomach.  I live and operate out of a place of deep optimism and hope, always, but I am finding that place hard to…… Continue reading Reflections on a Topography of Terror

Moving Beyond Assimilation

Posted in Immigration, Politics, UncategorizedLeave a comment

I was listening to NPR the other day, and I heard a story about immigrants—particularly Syrian immigrants in Toledo, Ohio.  [You can find the story here:  http://www.npr.org/2017/01/04/508220451/in-toledo-syrian-refugees-are-welcomed-amid-a-difficult-immigration-climate%5D What really struck me was the comment of one of the interviewees, Jon Johnstone, who was described as being “suspicious of people who continue to wear headscarves and…… Continue reading Moving Beyond Assimilation

Thoughts for 2017: Believe; Act; Abide

Posted in Christmas, Hope, Immigration, Relationships, Social JusticeLeave a comment

So, thoughts on 2016?  Not one of our best years, was it?  First and foremost, whatever you think about the Trump election, the election cycle was divisive and ugly, and brought out the most contentious in many of us.  And, we ended up with a president who has said truly despicable things about women, Muslims,…… Continue reading Thoughts for 2017: Believe; Act; Abide

Expectant Waiting, Adoption and a "death-bearing grave of a God"

Posted in Adoption, Advent, Grief, MiscarriageLeave a comment

Perhaps nothing best embodies Advent waiting like pregnancy.  Obviously, Mary’s pregnancy is the event all Christians are waiting for these weeks–so there’s that–but even more broadly, physical pregnancy is the source of the metaphor of new life, and also points us to new hope and new beginnings. So, it is perhaps somewhat ironically that I…… Continue reading Expectant Waiting, Adoption and a "death-bearing grave of a God"

"Aren’t We Lucky?"

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

At the American Academy of Religion meeting last week, the Society for Buddhist-Christian Studies sponsored a panel honoring the work of Jim Fredericks, pioneer in Buddhist-Christian dialogue and all-around wonderful human being.  After several papers were presented, discussing various aspects of his long career, Dr. Fredericks stood up to offer a response.  He took a…… Continue reading "Aren’t We Lucky?"

Nouwen’s Three Movements of the Spiritual Life

Posted in UncategorizedLeave a comment

I just finished a classic text that I had never read before, Henri Nouwen’s Reaching Out:  The Three Movements of the Spiritual Life.  I really loved it, and I’m going to be using it in an upcoming presentation.  In the meantime, I just wanted to share the movements, and a couple really great quotes.  If…… Continue reading Nouwen’s Three Movements of the Spiritual Life