January 6 was Epiphany, the celebration of the Magi’s visit to the Christ child in Bethlehem. I use this occasion each year to spend a little more time than usual meditating on the first four chapters of the book of Proverbs, which I call the “wisdom” chapters because they speak specifically of the value of […]
Re-envisioning the First Christmas Morn
A few years ago I wrote a Christmas children’s stage play that has since been produced in a number of churches. In the opening scene, after a choir of pint-sized angels sing “Glory to God in the Highest,” three shepherds have a conversation in which they all agree they don’t believe in angels, didn’t see […]
Death Defier
Some of my readers know that my husband had back surgery a month ago today to relieve pressure on a nerve that was causing him tremendous pain. He had been declining rapidly after a fall in June, and besides the pain, was not doing well overall. The surgery present a risk in two respects. One, […]
Christ in Danger
From the eighth stanza of the Prayer of St. Patrick, 5th Century missionary to Ireland, come the words, “Christ in Danger.” I have meditated on this stanza of Patrick’s prayer over the past month, along with Marilyn Chandler McEntyre’s book “Christ, My Companion,” a wonderful reflection on this portion of the ancient prayer. Of all […]
Symbolism
Because I had the time to do so, I spent many hours yesterday in front of a television screen, watching various 9/11 ceremonies around the country. What struck me about these events – whether they were carried out in a field in PA, Ground Zero in NYC, the Pentagon, or right here in our area, […]
Christmas Visitation
Lately my life has been like sitting under a canopy out in the middle of the desert, beside a dirt road. Time ekes by very slowly as I wait for the bus to come by to pick me up and take me away from there, but the bus doesn’t come. So I sit and wait, […]
How Long to Sing This Song?
Do you recognize the phrase, “How Long to Sing This Song?”? It’s from U2’s song “40,” loosely based on Psalm 40. I can’t say I understand the full meaning of the lyrics, but seeing as it was written during the time of conflict in Northern Ireland, that’s a big clue. But I’m thinking, of course, […]
Election Night Hangover
Today’s headline about Obama’s relection is no surprise. Sometimes polls are wrong, but this time they were dead on…close race, Obama wins. Many people leading up to last night’s race warned of doomsday if Obama won. But I don’t personally believe America’s future has much to do with who sits in the oval office…it has […]
Integrity in the Blogisphere
If you have read my About page, you know that one of my goals for this website is to report on current events from a Christian perspective. Honestly, I have not done much of this, still being a relatively new blogger and unsure of my footing as a journalist in the blogisphere. However, I may […]
Evidence of Forgiveness-Part 2
In Matthew 18:21-35, Jesus tells a parable about a man who owes a large sum of money to a local king. When the king realizes the man cannot repay the debt, he orders him and his family to be sold into slavery until the debt is paid. The man begged for more time, and the […]