It was over 600 years ago that Julian of Norwich had this amazing revelation – “All Shall be Well.” When we look around us, we can easily question the audaciousness of her vision’s hopefulness and serenity: how could all things possibly “be well” when we’re are surrounded by violence, savage acts of terrorism, mass murder, […]
Present
Blog posts relating to the present such as social justice issues
Trinities: Historical Alternatives to “Father, Son and Holy Ghost”
The concept of God as Father resonates well with many religious Jews and Christians. The all-male Trinity – Father, Son and Holy Ghost/Holy Spirit – is so ingrained for Christians that our faith without it seems somehow heretical or false. In recent years, however, the idea of God as Father, for many people whose human […]
Prayers for a Hurting World
I invite you to pray! Whether you believe in a supreme being or not, whether or not you are part of a religious group or congregation, you may feel the need to do something in these trying times. I’m prejudiced, but I believe that my Episcopal tradition offers a rich array of prayers for almost […]
News Stories that Don’t Go Far Enough
They stop short: journalists reporting stories about serious problems in the US, in even the most respected outlets, who often stop at the problem rather than explore possible solutions. Significantly, many possible solutions can be found in Europe and other advanced nations. While I greatly appreciate the depth and professionalism in which the journalists cover […]
World Happiness Reports: Reflections on an AARP Interview
Who are among the happiest people in the world? Is that important? How happy are we Americans? I have mentioned the World Happiness Reports in past posts on good government, socialisms, and the American workplace (#4), arguing in part that many other nations rank higher than the US on happiness. I’m raising the issue again […]
It’s Well Past Time: The Imperative Need to Address Gun Violence
Orlando, June 12, 2016… As I was preparing this blog post, we experienced the deadliest mass shooting in US history. Once again, we mourn, try to make sense of the senseless, debate and, hopefully, come together in solidarity. But we must face facts: violence in the US, especially violence involving firearms, is a serious problem, […]
The Place of the Religious Life in the 21st Century
Nuns and monks – perhaps not the first people who come to mind when you think of our modern culture. But quietly and steadfastly, many of these folks daily contribute to society from a standpoint of faith, spirituality and commitment. Here I want to highlight the lives of “my” sisters, the Episcopal order of the Society […]
A Break
I’m taking a break this week – which gives you, dear reader, a chance to catch up on the blogs you may have missed! 🙂 Ponder beauty, love and peace in the meantime! (Pictured here is a mosaic from the floor of the Octagon Basilica at Philippi, Greece.)
What We Women Want in the Workplace
Periodically we hear another story about what women want in the workplace. I’ve been thinking about that issue a bit lately, as well as the slams we hear against so-called “political correctness.” I found a very good treatment about both issues in a March 2016 article by Cord Himelstein, Vice president of Marketing and Communications at […]
Workfare versus Welfare: The European Approach to Social Support Services – and Life
Let’s face it: our “war on poverty” and “war on drugs” haven’t worked very well. As Senator Bernie Sanders has pointed out time and again during the current presidential campaign, most new wealth in our country goes to the top one percent of Americans, there is vast income inequality (and has been for awhile), and […]