I am reading a fascinating book titled Savage Continent by Keith Lowe that focuses on the aftermath of World War II in Europe. It spends a long time outlining what life looked like for citizens and the masses of displaced peoples who had been imprisoned in work camps, concentration camps, and prison camps throughout Nazi … [Read more…]
Sometimes we live our lives for our own experiences, for our own purposes, and for our own convenience. This is what we are called to place aside when we come to faith. We are called to start putting the needs of others first and to fight against the injustices of the world. We are asked … [Read more…]
I was watching the news the other day and like many people I find it increasingly more difficult to find reports that give me hope in the future of this world. There are reports of all consuming fires, bullying, more people dying from the flu, people dying from war, and copious amounts of political infighting. … [Read more…]
When I walk into a church for worship, the seat that I take is up in the loft. As the child of a choir member, this was where I was raised to sit when in a church. To this day, I am a little uncomfortable sitting in the congregation. When I take a class, my … [Read more…]
Last week I mentioned how little Will Bassett asked me what God sounded like and how would he know if God was talking to him. Jewish rabbinical tradition tells us to look towards nature for the word of God. We are told to look towards nature for our heavenly inspiration. I love to go out … [Read more…]
On the surface you may be asking why these two stories are intertwined and what the meaning of these stories is. But the story of the daughter of Jairus and the bleeding woman are about what it takes to have faith. In life, it is hard to not become cynical about the world around us. … [Read more…]
My father is an avid fisherman. When I was a little girl I remember him taking my brothers and I down to the Babcock Pond to spend the day fishing. At that young age, I didn’t know anything about fishing. So he very gently and calmly showed me how to bait my hook with the … [Read more…]
When I was in middle school, my eldest brother was sent on active duty to Saudi Arabia. I remember sending letters, and receiving broken up phone calls while he was a way. He said it was so hot that no work could be done during the day and so to pass the time they captured … [Read more…]
The easiest time to have faith is when life is going as we would like it to go when everyone is healthy, happy, and we are successful. This is when we feel the graces of God the strongest. The hardest time to have faith is when everything is going wrong and life is just one … [Read more…]
When I was a little girl, my brother Jason and I used to argue with one another about who was smarter. And now I see that same type of competitiveness among my nephews. It is what drives us to better ourselves in the best of times. Most recently my oldest nephew has decide, as both my … [Read more…]
