William Wordsworth’s lament “the world is too much with us” captures my current mood. I would summarize the past 18 months in a single word: loss. A brutal, isolating pandemic, my mother’s failing health, disrupted relationships — all elements of prolonged mourning and dislocation. Like those first moments after stepping off the Tilt-A-Whirl at the state fair, I feel disoriented…
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Once More to the Wild
Wolves in Sheep’s Clothing: Six Red Flags for Faith Communities
Sex scandals among evangelical leaders have reached epidemic proportions. Jerry Falwell Jr. at Liberty University. Carl Lentz at Hillsong Church. Ravi Zacharias at Ravi Zacharias International Ministries (RZIM). Bill Hybels at Willow Creek Community Church. Just the tip of the iceberg. Every incident follows a similar playbook: deny, rationalize, blame the victim, threaten, cover up, rinse and repeat. Next week…
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Embracing a Season of Hope
“Hope is the thing with feathers, that perches in the soul, and sings the tune without the words, and never stops at all….” Emily Dickinson I don’t know about you, but there’s a lot of chirping going on in my soul these days. Spring always feels hopeful, when the world explodes with new life, but this Spring follows a full…
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Great Reads of 2020: A Reading Year in Review
In my 60 years on this planet, no year compares to 2020 for sheer, unrelenting wretchedness. Gahhhh, so long, 2020. Don’t let the door hit you on the way out. One bright spot in the year, however, was more time to read. Books have long been my refuge, and they certainly sustained me during this year of hunkering down. Here’s…
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Kim Hickey: Finding Perspective In Grief
I first met Kim Hickey 30 years ago, when she was in high school. There’s a steadiness about her, a quiet strength, an easy smile. Few people know the hardships she’s endured, but I do. So when she found love again after raising her three daughters alone, I was ecstatic. No one deserves love and joy more than Kim! And…
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