The traditional story of Easter we pretty much know. Jesus is crucified, dies on a cross. He then is placed in a tomb only to resurrect three days later. There are four versions of the resurrection story, one in each of the canonical Gospels, and each a little bit different. The narratives are a combination [...]
Some of my favorite characters from the Christmas story are the wise men. Even though I know the stories aren’t historically true, I love that each character represents a part of me. As I have mentioned in the previous two articles, the narratives we have for the birth of Jesus are found in two of [...]
The other day I was talking with a friend who lives in Germany. It was already nightfall for her and she was sharing with me the beauty of their first snowfall this season. She described the scene outside her window with such clarity, that I couldn't help but close my eyes and imagine it for [...]
Christmas holds a special place in my heart, not because of any religion or theological beliefs, but mostly because it was my dad’s favorite holiday and because it’s a time of year for many family traditions and rituals to be played out. Every year we know the traditional frustration of hanging lights on the house [...]
I recently sat in St. Patrick’s Cathedral in New York City, a mecca for Catholics. Ironically, I think it’s a mecca for anyone deeply rooted in a religious tradition. I am surrounded by the trappings of my past, of all that is Catholic: stained glass windows my great grandfather worked on, statues and carvings of [...]
As I look out my window and listen to the soft sounds of rain against the glass I am reminded of the rain’s fresh, cleansing power. I know with rain will come the new life of spring. I watch my world coming to life – seeing the daffodils and crocus peak their sleepy faces from [...]
If you think about it, doors are everywhere, we breeze through them hundreds of times a day, rarely noticing them. Doors offer us protection, solitude, safety. They can let someone in, or keep them out! They show us the direction in which we are headed. Stop and think about all the doors you have passed [...]
The journey of Easter is the journey of transformation. It’s the journey of letting go and dying to the old and being born anew. And it sounds like such a fabulous thing, like “Tahdah! I’m born anew!” But if you fully embrace the Easter process, if you really engage in it with your body, mind [...]
Many churches have signs facing the road with instructions for living your life, and sometimes they are quite entertaining. Over the years I have chuckled, rolled my eyes, or sighed heavily at many I have seen. A few of the funny ones include, “WalMart is not the only saving place,” “Forgive your enemies – it [...]
It’s still dark outside, and I wonder what others are doing at this hour. I am sitting with my laptop as I work to finish my Palm Sunday talk for tomorrow, and I am flooded with childhood memories. Easter is so alive for me this year, which I think is a little odd, since I [...]
