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Category Archives: love
My Journey to Easter
Last year on Palm Sunday, the rector of our large, young, and vibrant Episcopal parish, St. Michael’s in Raleigh, announced–only half in jest–that we might want to consider attending the Easter Vigil on Saturday night rather than trying to find … Continue reading
Miracles Do Happen–If We Listen
Saturday, March 4, in Columbia, South Carolina, I witnessed what I can describe only as a miracle, the University of South Carolina’s performance of Leonard Bernstein’s MASS. By Monday, when I could not stop pondering–seeing, hearing, singing–those 110 minutes of capital-T … Continue reading
Greeting: Advent Word 20
Four times in his letters, Paul counsels the early Christians to “greet one another with a holy kiss” (Romans 16:16, 1 Corinthians 16:20, 2 Corinthians 13:12, and 1 Thessalonians 5:26). Likewise, Peter urges, “Greet one another with a kiss of … Continue reading
The Classroom, the Headlines, and a Lesson in Perspective
By the time I was in the third grade, in thrall to the eccentric Mrs. Nina Williamson who taught us our multiplication tables and read Thornton W. Burgess to us after lunch each day, I had decided that I wanted … Continue reading
Finding Community: Prayer, Love, Work, and the Liturgy
I must be clear that this all happened a week ago, July 30, eighth Sunday after Pentecost on the liturgical calendar–or kalendar, if we’re being precious–Year A, Track 2. Everything would have different had it not been this specific Sunday … Continue reading
My Second-to-Last Conversation with My Father
Yes, I know the word penultimate. Yes, I have known since reading Strunk and White that one word is always better than three, even when the three are hyphenated. But I received my inspiration for this … Continue reading
Being Martha/Being Peter: The Other Lesson of Maundy Thursday
In November of 1997, I attended North Carolina Episcopal Cursillo, a short course in Christian living modeled after a movement that began in Spain in 1944 to train lay leaders in the Roman Catholic Church. The three-day spiritual pilgrimage alters … Continue reading
The Tale of John Leak and His Foot of Clay
Once upon a time, spring had begun for the more than 4,000 people in a booming Southern town named after the Marquis de Lafayette. Trees and shrubs—forsythia, azaleas, redbuds, and wild cherries— provided a dazzling palette of yellow and pink … Continue reading
Posted in cemetery, history, love
Tagged cemetery, fairy tale, history, music, story
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Waiting for God
Several days ago, I found a box taped up when we moved here seven years ago and never opened since. Amongst the knickknacks, costume jewelry, and small-appliance instructions I found there was this photo. Two friends hamming it up in over-the-top seasonal regalia sweaters … Continue reading
Cheeseburgers and Pepsi at the Lord’s Table
I have walked around with the name of Charles Darwin taped to my back. I have written personal questions on a paper airplane and thrown it across the room. I have been blindfolded and forced to navigate an obstacle course … Continue reading
Posted in love, religion
Tagged Holy Eucharist, Kairos, love, ministry, prison, religion
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