The Power of Blessing
When a much-admired elder said, “Why don’t you bring your teaching gifts into the church?” I replied, “Oh no, I haven’t been to seminary.” “Nonsense!” he said. This simple exchange was a turning point in my life. It was a simple word of blessing that planted a seed. More than a compliment, I felt […]
Embracing Mystery
Image: Annunciation by Henry Ossawa Tanner Christmas is upon us. How is your spirit? What is stirring in your soul? Over these weeks of Advent preparation, I have been surprised and perplexed by how much I have experienced doubt. Doubt in myself, doubt in others, doubt in our world getting any better, doubt […]
Wilderness Waiting
Simply waiting has become a waste of time, a space to be filled with quick plans, funny screen-shots or solitary games on some handy device. When I took the Metro down to the Festival Center for their annual “chocolate and caroling” singalong, I noticed that everyone on the train was glued to a cellphone, and […]
Preparing the Way
The Road to Seguin, Haiti, photographed by Erica Lloyd “Prepare the way for the Lord.”* Like so much of the Bible these days, it’s one of those biblical phrases that I long took for granted. Of course John prepared the way for Jesus! But suddenly I couldn’t quite wrap my head around those words. […]
