It’s Easter Monday, and I’m tired! I’m not working in a congregation, so I shouldn’t complain, but in the last four days, I attended two Maundy Thursday services, two Good Friday services, one Easter Vigil and one Easter morning service. They all were fabulous, and it was a wonderful weekend, but it all has left…… Continue reading Wise Words from Gloria Steinem
Author: happylutheran
March 25, 2016: The Annunciation and Good Friday
Something extraordinary is happening on Friday: this year, the date of Good Friday is March 25th, which also is the traditional date of the annunciation and thus the date of Jesus’ conception. [I like to think it occurred at the moment of Mary’s “yes” to God.] I’m unduly excited about this, because I am a…… Continue reading March 25, 2016: The Annunciation and Good Friday
The Nightingale, "Sorites" and the Truth
A couple weeks ago, my Monday night book group met to discuss “The Nightingale,” by Kristin Hannah. [It’s a great book, and I highly recommend it.] Toward the end of the conversation, I raised a question about a significant plot point that concerns a key decision made by one of the main characters–and, here I…… Continue reading The Nightingale, "Sorites" and the Truth
Trump Telling Lies [again]
I promised myself that I would not write another blog post on Donald Trump, mostly because he drives me crazy. I think he is not only idiotic, but very dangerous, and I get discouraged about the state of this country when I see how many people are interested in him and voting for him. The…… Continue reading Trump Telling Lies [again]
Asking the Beasts
Like all other academics I know, I have a shelf full of “to-read” theology books—some of which have been there an embarrassingly long time. I get to them when I can—in between other pressing books that relate directly to current courses I am teaching, or current writing projects. It’s an aspirational shelf to which I…… Continue reading Asking the Beasts
Divine Thoughts on Barbie: Blue Hair and Curves
As I sit down to write this blog post, the news is just breaking about Barbie’s new curves—have you seen the story? If you missed it, Mattel has designed a new Barbie—well, several new Barbies, actually: three new body types [petite, tall, and curvy] with 30 hair colors, 22 eye colors and seven skin tones. …… Continue reading Divine Thoughts on Barbie: Blue Hair and Curves
Studies with a View to the Love of God
Today is the beginning of a new semester, which means I am once again thinking of that brilliant essay by Simone Weil [pictured above], “Reflections on the Right Use of School Studies with a View to the Love of God.” [I know I have blogged about this before, but I can’t resist talking about it…… Continue reading Studies with a View to the Love of God
Lessons from the PhotoArk
This is a plug for a great exhibit currently at the National Geographic Musuem in Washington DC–“PhotoArk,” a collection of photographs by Joel Sartore. He is trying to document all the world’s threatened species–5,000 so far & counting. He visits zoos & rescue centers to take pictures of the animals against a stark black or…… Continue reading Lessons from the PhotoArk
Doing a New Thing!
When I got home for lunch after chapel today, a lovely Christmas card was waiting for me, with a quote from Rainer Maria Rilke: “And now let us welcome the new year, full of things that have never been.”It seemed particularly appropriate, given what had just happened a few hours earlier. At the end of…… Continue reading Doing a New Thing!
Lessons from a Mediocre Harp-player
This is my harp–isn’t it lovely? I play the harp–more or less. I’ve been playing for a few years now, and I’m still pretty bad: I don’t practice as much as I should, and I don’t have much natural ability. Mark Oldenburg is responsible for my foray into the music world: when I was turning…… Continue reading Lessons from a Mediocre Harp-player