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 […]
Lent: Letting go of needless suffering
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 […]
Lent: Getting beyond preconceived ideas
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 […]
Lent: Getting beyond being comfortable
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, […]
Lent: We are in good company
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 […]
Lent: Recognizing pettiness
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 […]
Lent: Examining what doesn’t fit
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 […]
Lent: Identifying self-distortions
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 […]
“Me too” campaign a sobering reminder
The “#Me too” movement has been sobering for me as I watched many of my female friends, former colleagues, and family members use social media to speak out about their own experiences of sexual harassment, assault, or rape. Those two simple words, “Me too,” have revealed how pervasive the problem is in every institution and […]
Cottage finale
Today concludes my visit to the cottage in Kittery, Maine, and it brings an end to 22 annual visit by the Powell brothers. We decided via email earlier this year that it was our last visit to the cottage that was part of our childhood and now a significant part of our adult lives. The […]