My Easter reflection this year talked about the message of the resurrection being a word of great hope and expectation for people in difficult circumstances, such as the Hebrews caught between the advancing Egyptian army and the Sea, and the people of Judah exiled in Babylon for seven decades. Despite this message of hope, however, … Continue reading Dealing with Desolation: Some Thoughts on Managing Pandemic Fatigue
I've been thinking a lot lately about Teddy Roosevelt's famous quote about "the man in the arena," which has been repopularized over the past decade by Brene Brown's use of it in Daring Greatly. It goes: "It is not the critic who counts; not the man who points out how the strong man stumbles, or … Continue reading The Arena
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
Alleluia! Christ is risen! He is risen today. He is risen for us. He is risen in the midst of sickness. He is risen in the midst of grief. He is risen in the midst of isolation. He is risen in the midst of political polarization. He is risen in the midst of societal disruption … Continue reading Surprised by Life: A Reflection on Easter
Matthew Root 