The Opposite of Presence
(From a “Slice of Infinity” blog by Jill Carattini) In a poem titled “Moments of Joy” Denise Levertov tells the story of an old scholar who takes a room on the next street down from his grown children—“the better to […]
life
She Died with Her Running Shoes On
Eighty-six year old Joy Johnson, a veteran of 25 New York City marathons, died with her running shoes on. Johnson, who still holds the record as the oldest female to finish the race, fell at the 20 mile marker in […]
The Gift of Life
Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV) – “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Christmas in our home is filled with […]
Rest
“Be still and know that I am God.” Psalm 46:10 In his book, “Finding God in a Busy World,” John Killinger writes: I thought about this text [Ps 46:10] some months ago as I sat in Sacre-Coeur, a church built […]
One Thing
In the movie City Slickers, Curly (Jack Palance) tells Mitch (Billy Crystal) that the secret of happiness is found in one thing. “What’s the one thing?” Mitch asks. Curly says, “You have to find out that for yourself.” Paul defined […]
A Faith Unobscured
At a funeral service in 1742, two giants of the Christian faith stood beside their mother’s grave. John Wesley conducted the services; his brother Charles wrote the epitaph for the tombstone. In part, it read: A Christian here her flesh […]
The Spirit Brings Refreshing Power
Go with me to Samaria and picture Jesus sitting on the stone ledge surrounding a well. Samaritans were considered filthy traitors to the Jews because, although they were once pure Jews themselves, they had intermarried with gentiles and blended their […]
Where Are You Going?
Albert Einstein was traveling from Princeton on a train. When the conductor came down the aisle punching tickets Einstein reached in his vest pocket; he could not find his ticket, so he reached in his trouser pockets. It wasn’t there […]
God Is Not Dead, Nor Does He Sleep
How inexpressibly sad are all holidays.” Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote these words in his journal on Christmas Day, 1861. The poet had good reason to be sad that Christmas. The previous July, his wife Fanny, whom he openly adored, had […]
Are You God?
Recently, I was reminded of a story told years ago by Dr. John Maxwell. It’s one you’ve probably heard, but it brings a message that is worth contemplating again and again. Shortly after the end of World War II, Europe […]
