The Great Eraser
Borders are, all too often, contentious places. You can probably name a handful of current conflicts just off the top of your head: India-Pakistan, Ukraine-Russia, Eritrea-Ethiopia, and so on. Sometimes the closest neighbors make for the bitterest enemies. This was true back in Jesus’ day too, although the reciprocal acts of violence and destruction between […]
Joy as Resistance
In today’s reading* the disciples ask Jesus, “Increase our faith!” It is an honest plea that I frankly understand deep in my core. How many times, particularly in the past 12 months have I reiterated those same sentiments. When the world feels overwhelming, when injustice, struggle, and exhaustion piles up, it’s tempting to think we […]
The Soulwork of Justice
In his new book, The Soulwork of Justice, Wes Granberg-Michaelson writes about his early encounter with the temptations of power: The world of social activism nurtures grandiosity. If you are part of that culture, even in smaller, local settings away from Washigton, DC, you’ve probably witnessed this. Inward, private truths get shaded by public personalities. […]
Celebration as Protest
Two women left our apartment building, each with a covered dish, heading for a potluck dinner with friends. A little envious, I thought “How can they be celebrating when the world is so full of hatred and heartbreak.” Then I realized such a simple celebration is a counter-cultural protest – a way to value connection […]
