The lesson appointed for today from the Acts of the Apostles tells the story of two men in very different circumstances whose lives are about to intersect in a way neither of them could have expected. It’s a common literary trope, and reads like the blurb on the back of a novel. And as is … Continue reading A God of Surprises (A Reflection on Acts 9.1-20)
Hey everyone! Just a quick note to let you all know that I will be away and not posting here for a few days! Blessings on your week ahead! Matt
Endings are arbitrary and illusory. “The End” is never really the end. Just think of most of our conventional story endings: the guy gets the girl, the hero saves the day, “they lived happily ever after,” and the underdog comes out on top — none of these are actual endings at all: the guy may … Continue reading Endings (A reflection on Mark 16)
I once heard a sermon which summarized Jesus’ post-resurrection appearances with the Douglas Adams line, “So long, and thanks for all the fish.” I couldn’t help but think of this as I was reading this morning’s Gospel reading. The disciples are fishing but are having a frustrating time of it. A man, later recognized to … Continue reading Where you cast your nets (A reflection on John 21.1-14)
This Easter week’s exploration of character strengths returns to a theme I’ve explored a couple of times already in this space, but one that’s always worth thinking about (especially for a realist like me!): Hope. According to the VIA Institute on Character, “If Hope is your top strength, you expect the best in the future, … Continue reading Hope
Matthew Root 