Category: Speaking to the Soul

“The realm of God is a place of deep, universal compassion and understanding, not a hierarchy of power.”

“Perhaps it sounds silly, but I need to remember to thank God for giving me a reasonable sense of smell so that I can enjoy the smell of the rosemary bush I brush past as I go to get into my truck, the scent of rain, the delicious anticipation of good food cooking, the comfort of natural wood fires on the hearth, and the faint recollection of the scents of the church during the holidays.”

“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.”