Category: Speaking to the Soul

“The deep faith that C.S. Lewis came to know and share with others, did not come from shiny happy Christianity, but instead from his own life tragedies–the loss of his mother at a young age, the horrors of his service during WWI, his own sense of otherness from being an Irish soul who lived in England most of his life, and the untimely loss of his wife.”

“Even as the shoulder of Earth turns toward night with a sigh, like a sleeper settling deeper into dreams,
so we too rest secure, Blessed Savior…”

“I believe there are leaders in the church, in classrooms, in the halls of political power, and in our homes, who emulate Jesus (and Saint Edmund) and sacrifice on behalf of their people. They choose the path of peace instead of the path of violence, and in so doing reject and undermine the promise of empire that might makes right.”

“Since that walk, I’ve also kept my eyes open for the people and places who are bringing light into the world: neighbors who come together to advocate for peace and justice; communities gathering for worship and pray every week; friends bringing food to families in need; families opening their homes to children in the foster care system; individuals using their voice for those without one.”

“So maybe Peter wasn’t being the fool we sometimes take him for. He knew. And he didn’t want to know. He wanted to stay up there frozen in time. In love and safety and companionship. In His presence. And we believe Peter will be there again and we all will at the end of time. But not yet. And that is hard. It hurts.”

“Unpartitioned seeing is the sort of wisdom that grows out of a spiritual practice.  Resting in God in centering prayer, talking with God in Lectio Divina, being mindful of every step, welcoming every emotion, we come to trust that what we can’t tolerate must have a place.  This makes speaking truth to power all the more necessary.”

“The good news is that God’s grace is boundless, unlimited, and available to all, whether or not they accept it. There is no expiration date, number of items, coupons, or anything other than a willingness to be open to it and receive it. It never runs out.”

“They had their suspicions, the Twelve, I am sure. They witnessed miracles and heard teaching unlike any other, but an itinerant, zealous, son of a carpenter telling them to love everyone was not what the Jews of the first century were expecting. They were expecting a Warrior-Prince, come to kick Roman butt out of Jerusalem.”

“It becomes as simple as this: are we a resurrection-shaped people, or not? Is it possible for us to drop our thin veneer of cynicism to take seriously the idea that resurrection is at the very center of our faith? Isaiah 65 calls us to reclaim our faith with not just boldness but with joy. Real joy. Real hope. Real energy.”

“Negotiating peace sometimes results in peace, but sometimes it results in war. Or estrangement.  A personal expression of kindness can just as often attract hate as it does appreciation. Just ask Jesus. And his disciples.”