Lost My Place
“Absolutely unmixed attention is prayer.” ~ Simone Weil In the last two centuries, globalization has exploded. Communication, collaboration and relocation are accessible in unimaginable ways. Opportunities to connect with others are endless. Ways to work together are plentiful. Options of places to go are abundant. In the 1980s, the prevalent educational mantra for youth went something like this, “You can do anything, if you put your mind to it.” Years later, our society is still struggling to shed this mentality. It permeates our culture in all sorts of ways. It sets the tone for...
Read MoreThe Purpose of Scars
John 20:24 Now Thomas, one of the Twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.” 26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand,...
Read MoreSo Much Depends on the Weather
“And I feel, so much depends on the weather.” Scott Weiland As I sit at home, entrapped by another apocalyptic snowfall occurrence in the South, my mind is drawn to the extent our moods are impacted by the weather. According to the DSM-V, Seasonal Affective Disorder is a subcategory of major depression that repeats occurrence cyclically with the seasons, and usually during the fall/winter months. Why does this happen? Scripture does not delve into detail of the biological process (or lack thereof) in mood disorders. However, Scripture does paint us a rich, poetic portrait of how God...
Read MoreLimping Together to the Table: A Reflection on ‘Grotesque Broken-ness’
In Spike Lee’s 2002 movie ‘The 25th Hour’ Edward Norton stars as a New York kingpin, who is convicted for drug distribution. The film follows Norton’s character Monty as he spends his last 24 hours before reporting for his 7 year prison sentence. In this last day, Monty spends time connecting with his Dad, his girlfriend, his two best friends, and his dog. Monty’s dog is a pit bull that he found on the side of the road left to die by his Russian mob friends’ who were involved in a dog fighting ring. The dog had been badly injured, suffering a broken hip. When Monty approaches the dog, he...
Read MoreGracing with Your Presence
When a person comes seeking help for some sort of relational or emotional issue, our mind quickly shifts into problem identification mode. We analyze their life searching for patterns or themes, attempting to find snug categories, and then implementing the appropriate truth to negate the problem. Truth is good! Psalm 119:160 The sum of your word is truth, and every one of your righteous rules endures forever. However, we tend to oversimplify our implementation of truth. How often, do we go into automated mode in quickly scanning the set of concerns or symptoms, diagnosing...
Read MoreMore than Incantations: A Relational Approach to Learning & Change
Rather, speaking the truth in love, we are to grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ, from whom the whole body, joined and held together by every joint with which it is equipped, when each part is working properly, makes the body grow so that it builds itself up in love. Ephesians 5:15-16 “All knowing is knowing with, knowing in the presence of, implicitly before the face of, knowing under the caring guidance of—a covenant friend.” Esther Lightcap Meeks Reciting a fact or truth does not produce change. That’s called an incantation. This...
Read More
Recent Comments