As Christians we talk a lot about grace. And one of the main ways we talk about grace is as a gift. But often this sense of grace and gift is limited to ‘the forgiveness of sins’ leading to ‘eternal life.’ These are no small things, obviously, but I wonder if God might have more … Continue reading God’s Glorious Gift: A Reflection on John 17.1-11
Of all the practices we can undertake to listen to what our soul is trying to tell us, few are as direct about it, biblically-founded, or as controversial as dream work. Our tradition is filled with stories of meaningful dreams and visions and yet has also held them at a distance, warning the faithful against … Continue reading Soul Speech: Dream Work
Today is Ascension Day, which commemorates the end of the forty days of Jesus' earthly appearances after his resurrection, and his ascent into heaven. The story itself, as related in the Acts of the Apostles, is as simple as it is odd: As they were watching, he was lifted up, and a cloud took him … Continue reading A Glorious Inheritance: A Reflection on the Feast of the Ascension [Re-Post]
Regular readers here will know that I’m a huge reader, mostly of fiction. I love how good stories well-told can open us up to experiences and cultures far from our own, or make us feel seen in our own experiences — sometimes at the same time. Moreover as a proponent of narrative psychology and narrative … Continue reading Soul Speech: Fiction as a Sacred Text
[As I was preparing this week's Sunday post, I realized that my heart was basically writing the same post as I'd already written three years ago. So here it is once again.] Last Sunday, we looked at Jesus’ controversial words that he was (and is) the way to the Father and “no one comes to … Continue reading Another Advocate, Another Coach: A Reflection on John 14.15-21 [Re-Post]
Matthew Root 