If you wanted to make peace with a nearby tribe in the ancient Near East, it usually required spilling a lot of blood. I’m not saying that this should make sense to us now, but somehow it did make sense to them then. Instead of spilling each other’s blood, they would take a few animals, … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 5—Try Not to Step in the Blood
Spirit
Older than Dirt: Part 1—Not All Ground is Made of Dirt
The ancient Hebrews began their accounting of the universe in this way, “In the beginning, God created the heavens and the earth…”. In recent history, this has been turned into a debate about our physical universe: Where did everything come from? How long did it actually take? Who, if anyone, can I blame for mosquitos … Continue reading Older than Dirt: Part 1—Not All Ground is Made of Dirt
The White Man’s Fear
I don’t know if you’ve noticed lately, but it seems that a lot of powerful white men seem pretty fragile lately. Whether they be in political institutions, or religious ones, they sure are presenting a lot of insecurity. And we all know what that looks like: defensiveness, anger, subterfuge, control, big cars and bigger armies. … Continue reading The White Man’s Fear
Let’s Talk about Steaming Piles
This morning I woke up feeling like I had been in a car accident. It happens sometimes, usually after I’ve been doing something active. All this is new since I turned forty a few years ago. And it’s terrible. What’s worse is how it affects the rest of who I am. When I experience a … Continue reading Let’s Talk about Steaming Piles
Spirit and Soil: Part 10—Sleep is Underrated
Many times when I ask someone about their spirit-life, the response that I get has to do with how often they are meditating/praying, how much they are giving, how often they open and read their sacred texts, how consistently they gather with their spiritual communities. Very rarely do they mention the double-pepperoni Hot Pocket they … Continue reading Spirit and Soil: Part 10—Sleep is Underrated
Spirit and Soil: Part 9—Your Dirt is Spiritual, Too
It is estimated that nearly a million Tutsis were systematically extirpated in Rwanda by the Hutu in the 1990s. 300,000 of those being children. Machetes and hand grenades were the weapons of choice. On children. All this in a country that was considered to be the most successful mission field for Christians in the 1950s. … Continue reading Spirit and Soil: Part 9—Your Dirt is Spiritual, Too
Some Thoughts in the Wake of the Polar Vortex from Hell
I am not a fan of these polar vortexes. The cold is brutal, for sure. But that’s not the worst part. The worst part is all that wind. Recently, a friend who is part of my faith community mentioned that she loves the wind. Honestly, I had never met anybody who loved the wind. I … Continue reading Some Thoughts in the Wake of the Polar Vortex from Hell
Spirit and Soil: Part 8—We’re Pretty Much Like Ducks on a Log
Sleeping can be dangerous if you’re a duck. There are lots of creatures that appreciate a good duck, and so will wait for one to fall asleep. And a sleeping duck is—sorry about this—a sitting duck. Except that ducks team up when they sleep. They will sometimes choose a log, and sleep with two … Continue reading Spirit and Soil: Part 8—We’re Pretty Much Like Ducks on a Log
Spirit and Soil: Part 7–Temples are Overrated
Sometimes temples just aren't that helpful. In the ancient accounts passed down to us about Jesus, there is this beautiful story of a Samaritan woman who recognizes him as “a prophet”. But…she doesn’t totally trust this prophet because “you Jews claim that the place where we must worship is in Jerusalem.” So let’s back up … Continue reading Spirit and Soil: Part 7–Temples are Overrated
Spirit and Soil: Part 6—I’m Not In A Hurry (Mostly)
“Today.” Father Greg Boyle says that this is what many of the desert monastics would recite as a way of centering themselves in spirit. He has his own mantra inspired by the name of a play off-Broadway: “Now. Here. This.” It reminds him that what is in front of him, who is in front of … Continue reading Spirit and Soil: Part 6—I’m Not In A Hurry (Mostly)