What do Thanksgiving and Hanukkah have in common? This year, they share a day! In a merger of traditions and celebrations, Thanksgiving and Hanukkah will both occur on November 28. But both holidays share more than a date. Thanksgiving had been celebrated in America...
What do comic book superheroes and villains, children on Halloween, and masquerade balls have in common? You probably guessed masks. Masks conjure up images of mysterious strangers. Or sinister villains. Or heroic crime fighters. Or maybe just playful children. We...
Three months from today. Thirteen weeks. Twelve weekends. Ninety-one days. And then it will be over. Yes, Christmas is coming. And that statement will either cause you to roll your eyes, panic, or smile, depending on your age, your perspective, and your schedule. ...
The fireworks have already begun in my neighborhood. But I suspect the revelers are more interested in making lots of noise than in celebrating the upcoming anniversary of our nation’s independence. Independence. It’s in our country’s DNA. As American citizens,...
I’ve heard it said that nothing in life is free. For the most part, that’s true. But like many rules, this one has an exception or two. The air we breathe is free. The explosion of color in a glorious sunset is free. The melodious warble of a songbird is free. But if...
Mother’s Day is over, but for some, the emotions –happy or sad – linger. I recently spent some time with a young friend who is struggling with her role in the family and in the Church. Her feelings were exacerbated by the calendar – Mother’s Day happened to be the...
For every mother who sacrificed for her children. For every mother who has been her children’s greatest cheerleader. For every mother who challenged her children to be the best they can be. For every mother who gave more of herself than she thought possible. For every...
The clichés abound. Life is a process. Life is a journey. Life is a highway. Life is each of these and more. But as we move through the processes, in our journeys, and on the highways, what are we doing during these times? Especially during the times of waiting? Or...
We’re more than halfway through the season known as Lent. In many churches, Lent is observed as a forty day period of prayer and introspection leading to Easter. It’s also a traditional time of fasting, when some Christians give up a favorite food or activity in an...
February is thought of as the month of love, with Valentine’s Day taking center stage. But Cupid’s arrows have little to do with true love. You and I have the capacity for deep and abiding love because God first loved us (1 John 4:19). Because we are the recipients of...
Four Chaplains, Four Lifejackets, and Courage Courage was my “One Word” for 2021. So I’ve been especially...
Holding on to Faith in the Midst of a Fuzzy Future Ahhh . . . a new year. The future wrapped in a new...
Keeping Unity as We Celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. As Christians, we don’t make unity, we keep unity....