Sunday was the Feast of St. Francis, and this was the first year in many, many years that I was not able to do a Blessing of the Animals service. That has always been one of my favorite services, and for these last 15 years, I always led them with little Henry. This is also…… Continue reading Remembering Henry, on the Feast of St. Francis
Category: Hope
Seeking Peace in Hard Times
Tributes have been pouring in all weekend to Ruth Bader Ginsberg, may she rest in peace. Regardless of your politics, you can and should admire her tenacity, her endurance, and her long, rich life that was characterized by a fierce commitment to issues of justice, equality and dignity. She was a dynamo in a compact…… Continue reading Seeking Peace in Hard Times
A Love Letter to Mary Oliver, on her Birthday
Dear Mary Forgive the formality, but I feel as though we are old friends, because I know your words so well. Today is your birthday, and it seems to me to be a fine time to write you a love letter. And, I promise I will take your advice: consider this my few words patched…… Continue reading A Love Letter to Mary Oliver, on her Birthday
Radical Hope: Letters of Love
I wanted to share a few thoughts from a great book that I just finished, given to me by a dear friend. The book is titled Radical Hope: Letters of Love and Dissent in Dangerous Times, edited by Carolina De Robertis. The idea came about three days after the 2016 election, when she found herself…… Continue reading Radical Hope: Letters of Love
Facing New Challenges like a 90 year-old
If you are my age, give or take 10 years either way, and you loved Greek mythology growing up, you definitely have heard of Edith Hamilton. Well, maybe you haven’t heard of her exactly, but you certainly know her book, Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes, her retelling of many popular Greek myths. First published…… Continue reading Facing New Challenges like a 90 year-old
Sowing for the Future
Last week, John and I returned from a much-needed vacation in the Finger Lakes. It was an area we hadn’t visited before, and we had a great time–I highly recommend it, even if you’re not a huge wine drinker, which we are not. There are lots of interesting things to see in the region, including…… Continue reading Sowing for the Future
Take Your Guns and Go Home
Saturday afternoon, I got a call from a friend. He knew that I had been planning to go with some students from Gettysburg College over to the Rec Park to watch the fireworks, and he was concerned. Did I know that there were dozens of armed, uniformed men walking around town? I confessed I did…… Continue reading Take Your Guns and Go Home
How to Be An Antiracist
So, I just finished a book that everyone has been talking about: How to be an Antiracist, by Ibram X. Kendi. And, after finishing it, I totally feel like it lives up to the hype. It is, as you might expect, illuminating and educational, as well as being really well-written. I love how he uses…… Continue reading How to Be An Antiracist
The End of White Christian America
Like most of you, I am still reeling from the murder of George Floyd and the tragic aftermath. Unlike many of you, I have not been able to find the words to respond very well; I find that I am rendered speechless and despondent that we find ourselves here again, facing the murder of yet…… Continue reading The End of White Christian America
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
Happy Lutheran 