As most Americans know, former president Donald Trump’s campaign catchphrase was “Make America Great Again.” It is catchy, right? And compelling. Who doesn’t aspire to greatness? Who doesn’t want to live in a great country? World War II veterans and their peers were honored with the title “The Greatest Generation” by Tom Brokaw, who wrote…… Continue reading Make America Safe
Category: Grief
Doubling-Down on Gratitude
Every year, I write a “Gratitude” editorial for the Winter issue of Dialog. This is a version of that editorial–choosing gratitude, even when gratitude doesn’t seem to me the most logical or obvious response to current circumstances. I get it. And yet….So here it is. Here we are again. Despite all optimism, despite all positive…… Continue reading Doubling-Down on Gratitude
The Promise of Something New
For some reason, I continue to think a great deal about All Saints Day, even though we are now weeks beyond it. It was probably because the list of names was long this year–was there any congregation for which that wasn’t true?–and that extended list of names, of faces, of loved ones really brought home…… Continue reading The Promise of Something New
20 Years Later
Like most of you I am sure, I have been thinking a lot about 9/11 this weekend, which marks the 20th anniversary of the terrorist attacks. In particular, I have been wondering about whether it brought us closer as a nation, or whether it actually fragmented us. I imagine it depends on who you ask.…… Continue reading 20 Years Later
“Stranger Fruit”
If you get National Geographic, you saw this compelling article, which came out in the October 2020 issue. It highlighted a new art installation called “Stranger Fruit,” in which “black mothers pose with the sons they fear losing to violence.” Here are the opening sentences of the article: “There is a demand put upon you…… Continue reading “Stranger Fruit”
Grace and Strength: Comfort in Hard Times
No sense in sugar-coating it; last week was a rough week at Gettysburg College, which flowed into an ever rougher weekend, with the news that most of our students were being sent back home. Perhaps it comes as no surprise that most of them did not want to go—they enjoyed being on campus, they relished…… Continue reading Grace and Strength: Comfort in Hard Times
Grief in a Time of Pandemic
So, Monday was kind of a rough day. For no good reason, really–except irrational optimism–I was really counting on a little loosening of restrictions next week, and so when I heard that Gettysburg is not in the first set of counties being moved to “yellow” in Pennsylvania I was really disappointed, and a little depressed.…… Continue reading Grief in a Time of Pandemic
The Holocaust, Memory and Ethical Loneliness
Today is International Holocaust Remembrance Day. This day was designated by the United States General Assembly in 2005; January 27th is the anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz-Birkenau. I encourage you to learn more about the history of this commemoration here: International Holocaust Remembrance Day. In addition, the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum is a fabulous…… Continue reading The Holocaust, Memory and Ethical Loneliness
The Danger of Silence
Here we are, again. Once again, we find ourselves in a place we have been all too many times before, and only too recently. Here we are, again, mourning the tragic, senseless loss of life in a mass shooting. This time, at a mosque. Last time at a synagogue, and before that, at a church, and…… Continue reading The Danger of Silence
Expectant Waiting, Adoption and a "death-bearing grave of a God"
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"
Happy Lutheran 