The gift of showing up
As I write this, I’m relishing revisiting an article I had clipped, with a photo of the man giving this testimonial: "It made me feel like a human being again."Wow. Is he referring to a church? To a mandatory therapy…
Where we begin to heal
“Oh the land of the cloudless day,” Willie sings. The music is cranked up, of course, to the level that makes your heart swell. And I smile big, thinking how I prefer my life and my stories that way; with…
The light we can spill
Another week when so many in our world feel alarmed or exhausted, scrambling in their minds to make sense of it all.And I know this; when I’m tired, I prefer my head in the sand.After all, “What can I do…
Music as the hands of grace
I believe in the healing power of revisiting. Returning to stories—in books and movies and parables—that have reminded us that hope and joy and renewal are alive and well. Stories that ground us in the gifts of sufficiency and wholeness.…
Music, a place of sanctuary
During the Bosnian War, Serbs surrounded the city of Sarajevo. And the people of Sarajevo knew that sniper fire could kill anyone, indiscriminate; whether they stood in a bread line or were collecting a child from school.Even so, in the…
Dance in the dark
Reverend Otis Moss (senior pastor at Trinity United Church of Christ in Chicago) tells a story about a time when he and his church were under attack, some years ago. They were receiving dozens of death threats every week, “We’re…
Freedom to choose to care
The Sunday-school teacher asked her 10-year-old students if they would be willing to give $1,000,000 to missionary work for children and families in need."Yes," they all screamed in unison."Very good. Would you give $1000?""Yes!""Good. Would you give $1?"The class responded,…
We are builders
An elderly carpenter is eager to retire. He tells his employer (a very well-respected contractor) of his plans to leave the house-building business. He wishes to live a more leisurely life with his wife and extended family. He knows he…
We are healers
Happy New Year to all.For many, it is resolution time.But here’s my confession, I’m not a list maker. Well, that’s not technically accurate. I do make lists, but tend to forget where I put them. This is true; I tip…
Better to light a candle
As a storeowner tacked a sign above his door, 'Puppies for Sale,' a little boy appeared and asked. "How much are you going to sell those puppies for?"The storeowner replied "$50 each."The little boy reached into his pocket and pulled…