just enough light

To quote the previous post, “A big part of wisdom is figuring out which problems are mine to solve and which ones to let go.” Typically when I think about things that need to be solved or things I need to “get some control over,” I start by looking around me. I identify people or […]

My son, Austin, has been one of my best teachers lately, particularly in the area of “the wisdom to know the difference.” He has been attending AA and NA meetings regularly for many months. In each of those meetings the Serenity Prayer is plastered on the wall, it is recited as a group, and it […]

Several years ago, as part of a group, I read the book, The Wisdom to Know the Difference. The title is from the last line of the Serenity Prayer used by Alcoholics Anonymous. A quote from the book’s introduction reads, “It simply means recognizing that while I can chart my own course in life, I […]

I have written about legitimate suffering and needless suffering before, but the importance of it keeps coming up for me. The concept is basic to every major religion, but the quote that makes sense for me is from Sheldon Kopp: “Life can be counted on to provide all the pain that any of us might […]

Judy and I are currently hooked on one of those Netflix series that each time we watch it, we say, “Maybe we shouldn’t be watching this.” It’s violent and generally depraved, but oh, so addictive. The main evil character in the story is a ruthless, self-serving person who appears to have no conscience and no […]

Jesus grew in spiritual maturity the same way we do; through experience, exploration, doubting, questioning, disappointment, all the ways we learn. Jesus spent his boyhood like every other boy in his town. He went to the temple to learn from the rabbis about Jewish history and legend and law, all from the books of law, […]

When we set aside 40 days for self-reflection, we are in good company. Jesus did that. The scripture traditionally used for the first Sunday of Lent describes the 40 days Jesus spent in the wilderness. Biblical literalists would have us believe that Jesus encountered a physical Satan, was taken up to the pinnacle of a […]

I agree with Richard Rohr, one of my favorite theologians, who wrote, “Christians are usually sincere and well-intentioned people until you get to any real issues of ego, control, power, money, pleasure, and security. Then the tend to be pretty much like everybody else.” Ouch. I think he’s talking about me. I consider myself a […]

I have some old t-shirts in a box under my bed. Several of those shirts are for running 10K races back in the 80s. Some I bought at memorable concerts. Others declare my membership with some group from years gone by. All are waaaay too small now. What I once wore with pride and pleasure […]

Today is the first Sunday of Lent. The season of Lent began last week with Ash Wednesday and continues for the next 6 weeks. One of many words I have heard to describe this season is “Self-reflection.” I take this to mean this is a time to look at ourselves, not in a self-serving or […]