Over the past couple weeks, I've been reading a beautiful essay collection called One Long River of Song, by Brian Doyle, who passed away due to complications from a brain tumor in 2017. One essay that particularly stuck out to me, called "Everyone Thinks That Awful Comes by Itself, But It Doesn't," begins like this: … Continue reading The More Things Change…
The resurrection stories in the New Testament are not big, boisterous stories, shouting the news of the resurrection from the rooftops. Instead, they are tentative stories, involving a lot of uncertainty, questioning, fear, and vulnerability. In that way, they're well-suited for our times. For we too are living in a season of uncertainty and fear, … Continue reading When Jesus Shows Up: A Reflection on John 20.19-31
[This Easter Sunday, I was asked to preach at a virtual family church service. Today's reflection is a tidied up version of my speaking notes.] Good morning and good afternoon, everyone. It's wonderful to be able to gather together like this — albeit virtually — to celebrate the biggest feast of the Christian year. At … Continue reading God’s New Thing: A Reflection for Easter 2021
I don't know about you, but this week has been a struggle for me. All of the disappointments and frustrations of this COVIDtide season have been rubbing up against all my baggage, neuroses, internal narratives, and automatic negative thoughts in all of the most unhelpful ways. (It's a great testament to human narcissism how a … Continue reading On the Road
For some reason, the idea of setting the first week of Easter apart as "Bright Week" has grown more important to me over the years. It conjures for me images of open windows, refreshing breezes, singing birds, and leisurely coffees. But most of all, it brings to mind the idea of spaciousness. After all the … Continue reading Holding the Space: A Reflection on Bright Week
