If only we could learn the causes of violence. In a recent column Motive of destruction, (Boston Globe 1/8/14) Daniel Benjamin writes about terrorism, bombings and mass shootings. It now appears that the Boston marathon was not an organized act of terrorism, but rather the work of a mentally unstable young man and his brother. […]
At first the film Gravity seemed too fantastic. I mean when would I be dressed like an astronaut working on a space shuttle like Sandra Bullock’s character Ryan Stone? Then I recognized the spin. You know the one. Weightless without gravity she turns and spins with no direction, no stopping and no grounding. She is frightened, […]
One… What to buy to surprise your child? What to purchase to surprise your spouse? What to wrap to surprise your parents? We shop and plan and bake and wrap. Searching for that perfect gift that our friend both wants and will be surprised to receive, we hunt through malls, pore through catalogues, and listen […]
Twelve years a slave provide a riveting cinematic view of slavery in the 1840s and 1850s. The film opens with a shot of a violin bow dancing on strings. An accomplished musician and free man, Solomon Northrup plays the fiddle at a dance in his hometown of Saratoga Springs, NY. After Northrup is kidnapped and […]
Rainbow Grace: Stories of Hope and Triumph, this collection comprised my latest presentation of stories. To my delight I was invited to premiere this production at the banquet of the Association of Welcoming and Affirming Baptists in celebration of their 20th anniversary. There was music, photography of fabulous looking couples, a lucious dinner and dessert. […]
Seven sons of Sceva, charlatons of the first century in Palestine, put on healing shows. (See Acts 19:11-20) Yes, snake oil salesmen and magicians fool generations in every century. But a fascinating detail in the biblical story claims that the demon recognizes the powerful name of Jesus but does not know the clowns who invoke […]
Thich Nhat Hanh visited Copley Square in Boston. Thousands of people came to be in the presence of the great Zen Buddhist monk. They gathered, they sat down, they expectantly waited, and for 25 minutes there was as close to sheer silence as an urban center could be. I love this idea of silence as […]
At worship last Sunday at Worcester Fellowship, an outdoor ministry with folks who are homeless or at-risk of becoming homeless, the pastor welcomed people for a prayer of blessing and a laying on of hands. Her question was whether anyone had an anniversary to celebrate – being free of drugs or alcohol or violence. One […]
“How has your summer been?” she asked. The question on everyone’s lips this week after Labor Day. I told her about the great time I had on a 30-day silent retreat. “Wait, you were silent – for how long?” 30 days. She shook her head with a “better you then me, sister” smile. This happens […]
At the Bull Feeney pub in Portland, I heard Kate Chadbourne tell stories, sing songs, play the Irish harp. The evening was magical and the room was lit with love. Kate has written 40 well wishes in the last year. She has set up a web site www.wellwishingsongs.com on which people may request a well […]