- May 10
Holy Love
I find myself amazed that this is the last of my weekly reflections to share with you. Shall I write some “last” words before I retire to...
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- May 3
Perfection, redefined
The end of the semester is upon us with both relief and alarm. If you are like me, you have so much to accomplish, deadlines to meet,...
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- Apr 27
Eternal Time
I’m not sure about you--well, actually, I have heard this from some of you--but time is imminently strange right now. The pandemic has...
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- Apr 20
Truth's freedom
What are you afraid of? Dare I even ask this, given how much there is to fear, dread, or worry about? What are we NOT afraid of? There is...
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- Apr 13
An April Blessing
The days of Holi celebrations, the Festive Easter celebrations, Passover recollections fresh in our hearts, and in the new season of...
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- Apr 6
Power to Live
It’s Easter, a forty-day season in addition to a day, in my own church. And while I speak from my own Christian tradition, as always,...
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- Mar 30
Every Sacred Day
This week is an especially holy week, with the unusual conjunction of three major world celebrations of Judaism, Christianity, and...
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- Mar 23
Meaning Enough
The weekly email in which Vice President Dooley links this reflection claims that I am helping us make meaning. That may be true for you...
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- Mar 16
Let the broken be
Last week I was part of a virtual conference for University Chaplains and Spiritual Life Professionals. Instead of our annual in-person...
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- Mar 9
What in the world?
Last week I walked my dog down the street to the corner and back. When I got home, I could remember little to nothing about the time. I...
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- Mar 1
A little rain
A number of years ago I spent 5 weeks in Zimbabwe pursuing a research project on post war spirituality. I lined up interviews with many...
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- Feb 25
The Power of 1 Intentional Hour
During my time in undergrad, I took planning to the extreme. I had a step-by-step morning routine and reminders on every hour. My planner...
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- Feb 23
A blessing perspective
Today’s reflection comes from Reinhold Neibuhr (1892–1971) public theologian and Professor at Union Theological Seminar for more than 30...
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- Feb 15
Remember you are dust
Children’s book spoiler alert! I have many warm memories reading the children’s book The Monster at the End of this book with my son Sam....
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- Jan 25
God in the interruptions
I am participating in the President Book's Kick Some Glass reading and discussion group. In one of the chapters, the authors quote Dana...
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- Jan 19
Bidden or Unbidden
This morning I learned of a friend and colleague, who died of Covid. Jim Pitts was a long time chaplain who encouraged me many times...
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- Jan 11
The gifts of being alone
I startled myself this morning remembering a large group event a year ago, surprised to find that, back then, we gathered in groups, went...
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- Jan 4
Stars to Guide Us
I have had a hard time getting back to work, getting my mind and heart organized after a couple of weeks off. The rest and detachment...
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- Nov 24, 2020
A Year of Gratitude
Many of my friends have decided that the year 2020 is a no good, awful, bad, terrible year. I’m not saying it’s been a walk in the park,...
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- Nov 18, 2020
We Need More Light
The first day after Daylight Saving Time ended, it got dark at 4:30. I sat at my desk, finally getting something done, aghast as the...
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- Nov 10, 2020
Nothing is Wasted
My faith doesn’t answer many questions, and sometimes it raises more questions than I desire. But it does also give me Someone to trust...
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- Nov 5, 2020
Rays of Light: Islamic Meditation
The practice of mindfulness is explored from corporate boardrooms to magazine covers in the grocery store check-out line. While many...
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- Nov 3, 2020
Here We Are
Here we are I am writing this on Tuesday, cognizant that Wednesday’s coming, and Thursday after that. I am also fairly certain that what...
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- Oct 27, 2020
For Times That Are Not Pretty
“It’s not pretty.” I have heard and said this so many times lately. The complexity and uncertainty that we live with is taking a toll...
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- Oct 22, 2020
The Key to Wisdom
The great Sufi master Mullah Nasruddin was on his hands and knees searching for something under a streetlamp. A man saw him and asked,...
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- Oct 20, 2020
Make This Your List
Recently, at the end of a day packed with zoom calls and other meetings, with little or no space between things, I came home and...
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- Oct 13, 2020
Clear Minds and Pure Hearts
I was part of an online meditation, a few weeks ago, in which the presenter, Tommy Rosen, reminded us of a Sutra we need right now. One...
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- Oct 6, 2020
Shipwreck and Trapezes
I annually remind seniors that loss is part of change. I tell them that their commencement probably feels like flying through the air in...
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- Sep 29, 2020
In Awe of Awful Days
Are you having awful days? I have heard people speak that way about 2020, about the world, about this semester. Awful. There is truth...
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- Sep 22, 2020
Find Something Old
What gives you perspective? As Covid numbers rise on campus, as giants of justice and progress—like John Lewis and Ruth Bader...
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- Sep 15, 2020
Upside-Down Faith
The story goes that when I was a toddler, my favorite view was to put my head between my feet and look at the world upside down. ...
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- Sep 8, 2020
Numbering Our Days
I am writing this on a Friday and have abruptly realized that, perhaps for the first time in my professional life, I count down to...
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- Sep 1, 2020
Filling in the Blanks
I am a certified trainer for Crucial Conversations a dialogue model for inviting all perspectives and input, especially around content...
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- May 15, 2020
Behar - Bechukotai
In this week's Torah portion, Behar - Bechukotai, the last Torah portion for the book of Leviticus, God tells Moses to speak to the...
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- May 12, 2020
Finding Today's Haystack of Light
"Every day I see or hear something that more or less kills me with delight..." –Mary Oliver
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- May 11, 2020
On Prayer in 2020
Today I wrote a prayer for graduates of Elon this year that I plan record for the conferral of degrees. I think this is the prayer I...
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- May 8, 2020
Emor - Be Kind
This week's Torah portion is Emor from the book of Leviticus. There are two things I want to point out about this week's Torah portion....
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- May 6, 2020
Sacred Scripture is Not Apolitical
Since the first moment of this global pandemic this has been a political issue. So it is difficult to talk about the pandemic without...
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- May 4, 2020
Life is a Thin and Precious Thread
Last Sunday, I hauled my rocking chair from the living room to the front stoop of my house and sat in the warm air, watching a few...
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- May 3, 2020
An Abundance of Oreo
In the words of the hilarious Leslie Jordan, I’ve been “hunkering down” throughout this time of social distancing at my parents’ house...
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- May 1, 2020
We Are Holy Human Beings
“Who are holy beings? They are beloved, clear of mind, and courageous. Raising their voices in constant gratitude. They marvel at every...
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- Apr 29, 2020
Change
Heraclitus, an ancient Greek philosopher, is famous for saying, “No person ever steps in the same river twice, for it's not the same...
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- Apr 28, 2020
Holy Envy makes for Intention Making
This morning, I woke up fully intending to share a message with you all which was carefully crafted throughout last week. However, today...
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- Apr 26, 2020
Reopening, Resurrection, and Remaining in Place
Like many of us, I’m sure, there have been more than a handful of moments throughout the past six weeks where I’ve felt overwhelmed by...
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- Apr 25, 2020
Ramadan Reflection
The religion of Islam teaches that we should care for our souls as well as our bodies. Ramadan is the 9th month of the Islamic lunar...
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- Apr 24, 2020
A Modern Pandemic, Second Chances, and Light
This week's Torah Portion is Tazria-Metzora, and it's a Parsha we love to hate, universally dreaded by all Bar and Bat Mitzvah students....
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- Apr 21, 2020
Earth Week Reflection
Yesterday morning, my inbox was flooded with a chain of images of my grandfather greeting a heron in his back yard. A Michigander through...
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- Apr 20, 2020
Peace Be With You
Sometimes these days, I can’t get much done. Well, to be honest, this is the way I feel every day. What I once accomplished daily has...
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- Apr 18, 2020
Looking Deeper
The central teaching of Islam revolves around declaring the Oneness of God. An important point to make here is when we speak ofOneness,...
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- Apr 17, 2020
Shmin - Shemini
In the Torah, God commands the Israelites to make offerings to God in the form of sacrifices. The Israelites would bring forth offerings...
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