Nine Kinds of Generous
“Not speaking and speaking are both human ways of being in the world, and there are kinds and grades of each,” writes Paul Goodman in the Nine Kinds of Silence. “There is the dumb silence of slumber or apathy; the sober silence that goes with a solemn animal face; the fertile silence of awareness, pasturing the soul, […]
Turn my mourning into morning
I am in mourning for the world I thought I knew, had such hopes for, dreamed such dreams for… My world, my oyster, Not mine any longer. Overrun By hate, by hurt, by harm. But Love, Love doesn’t insist on its own way. Love waits, Waits patiently for an invitation. An opening in the doorway A […]
A functional faith: the Struggle is Real
I want a functional faith — not just a faith of works, but a faith that works. a faith that works out, a faith that works for, a faith that functions. I want a faith that does, while I am doing other things, faithfully. a faith that works its way into my day, along my […]
Does What I Do Really Matter?
For every action, there’s an equal and opposite reaction. So Newton says. That’s not to say that whatever you do, they’ll do it back to you; or whatever you give, they’ll give it back to you. No, good doesn’t necessarily beget good, it does good in the do-er. Some call it grace; some call it […]
Is life erasable or indelible?
If I could write the words of life in pencil and not pen, erase that bit, re-draft that part, try out that ending, then… Penciled in, not permanent, what a better life I’d live. Take some chances, try stuff out, Oh what I wouldn’t give. Wait, that pencil is right here, it’s sharpened in my […]
We’re Just a Pile of Change
They’re no different from me. They who now don’t have houses, don’t have water, don’t have cars, are missing pets, lacking livelihood, have lost loved ones. They’re no different from me. Oh, but I want to make them the object of judgment the image of wrath, victims of poor planning, poor execution, poor choices, I […]
Consumer or Producer?
What’ll it be today… Will I catch everything tossed at me, And throw it back real hard? So they know I’m no pushover; I can give as good as I take? Will I consume everything set before me Chew and swallow, mop up the gravy, Because I’m a member of the clean plate club, and […]
The temptation to look is hard to resist
For some reason, this feels especially true today … Our Father, Who art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come, Thy will be done, On earth as it is in Heaven. Give us, this day, Our daily bread. Forgive us our trespasses as we forgive those who have trespassed against us. Lead us […]
We’re not all meant to march
As news of Charlottesville is breaking and spreading across my newsfeed, a friend shares beautiful photos of a family vacation at a national park. Another, comments on the joy of having family all together at the beach. And I think, how can you share beauty and joy when we’re reeling in pain and hurt?! How dare […]
Praying for Charlottesville
Charlottesville, Virginia, l’il college town, All the school year, full of UVA Wahoos, going to football games, going to class, going to pubs down at the Corner. Just like everybody. Come from Virginia and everywhere, to Mr. Jefferson’s University, to get a college degree and to learn about life, in the classroom and on the lawn, from […]