What’s the news?
This summer I had a couple extended times of not checking the news. It was kind of glorious. I found myself less anxious, more attentive to the people and place around me. More attentive to myself. I guess another way of saying this is I was paying attention to other…
A soul-centric model of human development
One of the great discoveries this summer was Bill Plotkin’s book Nature and the Human Soul. Building on previous psychologist’s work around stages of human development, Plotkin offers a model linked with the natural world of seasons, directions, cycles, growth and diminishment. In his model, each stage has a cultural…
Sabbatical cometh
Do not burn yourself out. Be as I am. A reluctant enthusiast and a part-time crusader. A half-hearted fanatic. Save the other half of yourselves for pleasure and adventure. It is not enough to fight for the West. It is even more important to enjoy it, while you can, while…
Fifth generation
During our CDC Pastor Peer meeting last week our Conference Minister Doug Luginbill led a meditation on Exodus 34 which includes the words “The Lord, the Lord, a God merciful and gracious…keeping steadfast love for the thousandth generation…but visiting the iniquity of the parents upon the children and the children’s…
A modest proposal for reparative action
A modest proposal for reparative action: That predominantly white congregations across the US would unexempt themselves from property taxes, setting aside what they would owe annually, dispersing the funds to Black and Indigenous led organizations. Why reparative action? In her book Dear White Christians, Jennifer Harvey illustrates how the reconciliation…
Relief, grief, a gift, and a meeting
Relief I was driving to Eve’s softball game yesterday when the verdict was pronounced for former officer Derek Chauvin. While I never rejoice at anyone going to prison, it was a relief that he, and perhaps the system he served, was held accountable for the murder of George Floyd. But…
Land and learning in South Carolina
During our trip last week to be with family in South Carolina I got to spend a day in Beaufort/Port Royal, about an hour and a half down the coast from Charleston. It is home to one of the deepest natural harbors on the East Coast and was a strategic…
Holy Week/Year
“And Jesus was a sailor when he walked upon the water…forsaken, almost human, he sank beneath your wisdom like a stone.” – Leonard Cohen, “Suzanne” It’s not too hard to lose track of Jesus during Holy Week. Our Sundays are scheduled such that the parade of Palm Sunday is followed…
Remembering Henry Smith
Henry Smith died last Friday at the age of 88. His obituary is HERE. Henry started attending CMC in the late fall of 2014. We had just finished our “Difficult Passages” worship series which highlighted themes of scripture we found troubling – a follow up to our “Twelve Scriptures Project” which highlighted those we…
Generosity stimulus
Today, March 17, the IRS is releasing billions of dollars in stimulus money that will appear in bank accounts of American households. I checked this morning and ours is already there. That was fast. This will be a lifeline for many who are out of work or behind on bills…
