• The Dignity of Work

    The Dignity of Work

    The dignity of work is a strange phrase. It is almost never used as an abstract truth, though it intends to be. Otherwise we would hear related truths: The dignity of leisure. …of sleep. …of walking your dog. Or even more telling:The dignity of driving while black. …of sleeping on the sidewalk. …of walking in…

  • Going Away

    Going Away

    For SundayEaster 7B Collect O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives…

  • The Love Command

    The Love Command

    Learning how to love when it isn’t forced. Or optional. It is quite truly the only way we all can live full and true lives. Doing what needs to be doneEaster 6B | John 15:9-17 Jesus commands us to love. In American culture, that plays like an oxymoron. We think command and love don’t belong…

  • Taking Commands

    Taking Commands

    For SundayEaster 6B Collect O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our…

  • Love and the Vine

    Love and the Vine

    In comparing himself to the vine, Jesus gives us an opportunity to see the communal nature of love.

  • Not Much of a Gardener

    Not Much of a Gardener

    For SundayEaster 5B Collect Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who…

  • Love fuels sacrifice

    Love fuels sacrifice

    As the good shepherd, Jesus opens us to the idea that sacrifice, his sacrifice, is central to understanding love. Hearing the Good Shepherd within the chaosEaster 4B | John 10:11-18 I struggle with the shepherd image. Because I have a hard time relating to it. And I don’t know sheep. I don’t know what it’s…

  • Grandma’s Cookies

    I made my grandma’s cookiesyesterday. My kids didn’t reallylike them. And why would they?They don’t really resemble a cookieat all. They are far more like agranola bar, cut into bricks and stored in plasticware. I remember them always in the pantry. Enough for visitors–the grandchildren, of course. I’m not sure we liked them much, but…