I like all sports, but I don’t really follow tennis, so I didn’t watch the match last night between Naomi Osaka and Coco Gauff. I had heard about it, of course–it had been heavily hyped for days–so this morning when I woke up, I was eager to read about what had happened. It seemed the…… Continue reading Naomi Osaka: The Classiest of Class Acts
Category: Relationships
Expansive Empathy for all God’s Children
Yesterday I listened to one of my favorite podcasts—“Hidden Brain.” This episode was about empathy, and it is definitely worth a listen, even though it is a little long. It is especially important in the current context to think critically about empathy, since the data shows that, in general, in the United States, empathy has…… Continue reading Expansive Empathy for all God’s Children
Thoughts on the Beginning of Advent
I am so excited that Advent is finally here; it really is my favorite time of year. Of course, some of this is because of the secular [read: commercial] Christmas season that started with Thanksgiving, really. I can’t help myself: I love decorating the house, writing Christmas cards, shopping for presents, baking, etc., etc.; and…… Continue reading Thoughts on the Beginning of Advent
The Parliament of the World’s Religions
I just returned from The Parliament of the World‘s Religions and I’m still processing the whole experience. It was my third time to go, and I think this was the best time yet, because I had six Gettysburg College students with me. I was so proud of them: they engaged the whole experience with enthusiasm,…… Continue reading The Parliament of the World’s Religions
Being Loved & Being a Sheep
So, John and I went up to Burlington, Vermont for a week of vacation (a gorgeous city!), and while we were there, we finally got a chance to see the documentary on Mr. Rogers, Won’t You Be My Neighbor? I had been looking forward to the movie, because I remember Mr. Rogers very fondly from…… Continue reading Being Loved & Being a Sheep
Happy Mothering Day
Mother’s Day is tomorrow: if you haven’t bought a card or flowers by now, you better move to plan B. I don’t know exactly what it is that makes Mother’s Day feel so different from Father’s Day, but it does–and I’m not saying that as a woman; I think it is true for most…… Continue reading Happy Mothering Day
Atelic Activity and the Sabbath
I have been thinking quite a bit about this article that I read recently in The New York Times: The Problem of Living in the Present It is very interesting, as it describes how we spend our time, and how we think about our activities. Specifically, it contrasts “telic” activities with “atelic” activities. “Telic” activities have a…… Continue reading Atelic Activity and the Sabbath
Bonhoeffer, Palm Sunday and Our Walk to the Cross
This Sunday, we have a meaningful and poignant confluence of Christian commemorations: it is, of course, Palm Sunday, but it also is the feast day of Dietrich Bonhoeffer. This means that we will be beginning Holy Week–starting our long walk to the cross–hand in hand with Bonhoeffer; with his words in our ears, and the…… Continue reading Bonhoeffer, Palm Sunday and Our Walk to the Cross
A Little Less Certainty in 2017
Have you ever heard of the Piltdown Man? One of my favorite podcasts is “Stuff You Missed in History Class” (suffice it to say that I missed a lot in history class–my husband is constantly shocked at my ignorance!). Last week, I listened to an episode on the Piltdown Man (find the episode here:…… Continue reading A Little Less Certainty in 2017
Thoughts for 2017: Believe; Act; Abide
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
Happy Lutheran 