Two people are having a conversation about books.  The first one says that once he has read a story, any story, he is done with it because he now knows the outcome and there are no more surprises.  The second man says that once he reads a story, he often looks forward to reading it… [Read More]

Every Advent, John the Baptizer makes an appearance in our gospel readings.  And each Advent we are tasked to ask ourselves, “why?” What is so important about John that his birth story parallels Jesus’ own, as it does here in Luke’s gospel?  What does John’s presence show that we would miss without him? John the… [Read More]

First, I want to share an image.  It’s an image of someone shuffling his feet, shoulders rounded, slumped even, and head down.  Life has beaten this one down.  Choices had to be made; choices were made and this one who stands before us doesn’t stand at his full height.  The weight of his life, the… [Read More]

Oh, Hannah…  She has no son, no child, and her husband’s other wife constantly torments her.  Every time Hannah goes to the temple to pray, her rival severely taunts her.  You can just imagine the taunts: “Oh, Hannah, where is your God?  God must not like you very much if God has not given you… [Read More]

‘Tis already the season of gratitude and gift giving.  No kidding, the day after Halloween, I was in a local thrift store and Christmas music was playing on the soundtrack.  I flinched a bit, but surprisingly, since I liked the song, I found myself humming along, while trying to remind myself that it wasn’t even… [Read More]

She works at the office in Tribeca, New York.  He works in LA in some higher up position.  She is in her mid-twenties and single.  He is in his mid-thirties and married.  They have been “instant messaging” each other at work for the past few months, which is a kind of instant gratification for both… [Read More]

Have you ever scaled a mountain?  Have you ever been rock climbing—the kind of climbing that involves ropes, harnesses, a fairly substantial rock, and a whole lot of faith that you can make it?  Recently, my kids and I were out and about and saw one of those imitation rock walls.  There are these little… [Read More]

How do you personally define “awe”? What creates the feeling of awe and wonder within you? When is the last time that you felt that sense of awe? Merriam-Webster defines awe as “an emotion variously combining dread, veneration, and wonder that is inspired by authority or by the sacred or sublime.”[1] We might experience awe at the… [Read More]

What are your personal creature comforts?  What are those things that you would miss so much that your brain would start crying out without them, things that can soothe your soul like no other, things that are #1 on your list of must-haves?  I know that warm showers, pressed laundry, and freshly ground coffee are… [Read More]