This little light of mine
I spent today on Vashon Island. Guest preacher at Burton Church. And while on Vashon, I had to stop by, and say hello to my former congregation, the sheep.They looked up, as if to say, “We haven’t seen you in…
That kind of blessing
In his book, Life of the Beloved, Henri Nouwen tells the story of Janet, “one of my friends who is quite handicapped but a wonderful, wonderful lady.”She said to me, “Henri, can you bless me?”I remember walking up to her…
Dance, keeping hope alive
Robben Island is famous. It is the South African prison where Nelson Mandela and many others were incarcerated because of their struggle to end apartheid. (Mandela served 18 of his 27 years in Robben Island). Margaret Wheatley tells this story…
Making a difference
I am writing this on Father’s Day. And some stories I like to (well, actually, I need to) retell, for the good of my heart. Because “the stories people tell, have a way of taking care of them... Sometimes a…
The permission to shine
Have you heard of the Church of the Exceptional? (A non-denominational, interracial ministry devoted to ministering to the physically and mentally handicapped in the area around Rutherford County, NC.)In 1974, then Governor Jimmy Carter and Dr. Norman Vincent Peale were…
I believe in music
“Nothing can dim the light which shines from within.” Maya Angelou reminds us. And I say, Amen.And yet, darkness is still very real. Or maybe, it’s just that some people still don’t trust that the light is there. (Okay, maybe…
The light still shines
Have you ever thrown your hands up into the air, and shouted to no one in particular, “Enough already, I’m tired!”I have. And when these moments detonate, I scurry (on cue) down a rabbit trail of distraction, bristling and affronted,…
Grounding power of kindness
The cacophony in our world can be very loud. There is no argument about that.And, if we’re at all insecure about our status (our wellbeing), we are susceptible to (blinded by) public opinion, social media pressure and mob mentality. Bluntly,…
We are wounded healers
This weekend, we remember 9/11, the day our world shifted. I’ve been reading stories today, of loss and remembrance and honor.And a reminder that some days, we wake up in a world that is not a friend of grace. At…
Reconnecting with our heart
In the movie Walk the Line, Johnny Cash auditions for Sam Phillips. He is hoping for a record deal. He is playing an uninspired and insipid version of a gospel hymn.And Phillips tells him no.When Cash demands a reason, Phillips…