Have mercy on me, Mother Earth, according to your steadfast love and abundant benevolence. Wash each of us thoroughly while the dreamers awaken from their slumber. I know I have transgressed. I see before me the ways I have gone astray from your beauty and goodness. Create in me a clean heart, Mother [...]
How many think we can use more Golden Rule days? Raise your hands. Did you know there is a Golden Rule Day and it's April 5th? It’s a day to focus on and embody the Golden Rule: "Do unto others as you would like to have done unto you.” It’s a good rule and [...]
When was the last time you participated in something sacred with 1.5 billion people? The thought of that may sound exciting or possibly a little daunting, but I can tell you it is enlightening and deeply rewarding. I am referring to the Islamic holy month of Ramadan. It is considered the holiest month of [...]
Peace is one of those seemingly intangible, shape-shifting things in life, such as love, that molds our lives so intensely. It’s not necessarily something I can hold in my hand or perhaps physically give to you, and there are no words to adequately define the experience or even give a “correct” definition. Yet it is the [...]
Do you ever hear words emanating from your lips, and instantly while the words break from your mouth you think, “Did I really just say that??” You are still in the nanosecond of surprise, when you discover you probably have a small list of sentences or phrases you could never have imagined uttering. If you [...]
Caregiving is a complex journey that brings a flood of emotions including gratitude, frustration, compassion, sadness, guilt and yes–anger and resentment. We oftentimes have self-critical chatter saying “I’m inadequate” or “I’m not enough,” because we think we shouldn’t get angry. Then when we condemn ourselves for even getting angry, we wind up feeling guilty, and [...]
As a Disaster Response/Recovery Chaplain (F5 Tornado in Joplin, Hurricane Katrina, as well as local support), I offer my experience to you as you are considering what and where to donate. When disaster strikes, every little bit does help, I just want to make sure that you/we make the most of our contributions, so please consider [...]
First let me start by saying I hold all those who have been affected by the devastation from #Harvey in my heart - enfolding all life, including those providing the necessary life giving aid, care and comfort. I can’t begin to imagine the fear, anger and terror being experienced. I am watching from a distance [...]
On Sunday, February 24, 2017, I had the privilege to speak for a few minutes at the KC Interfaith Vigil for Immigrants and Refugees - in response to presidential orders being signed that were banning refugees and immigrants from entering the United States. As the Chair of the Greater Kansas Interfaith Council, I offered these words. [...]
We seem to be deluged with never-ending newspaper and TV coverage about the Syrian/Iraqi refugee crisis and the threat of extremist violence. Each time it shows up in my newsfeed on Facebook, cuts into a TV show I am enjoying, or I hear people in a coffee shop talking about it frantically, I am bombarded [...]
