family life, spiritual life

The ever-changing table

“Thanksgiving dinners take eighteen hours to prepare. They are consumed in twelve minutes. Half-times take twelve minutes. This is not coincidence.” Erma Bombeck, American humorist The era that set all that Thanksgiving should be in my mind was actually rather brief. It began the year my immediate family returned to our Chicago-area home base and… Continue reading The ever-changing table

gardening, spiritual life, writing

The writer’s dilemma

“It is a mistake to think that moving fast is the same as actually going somewhere.” -- Steve Goodier, inspirational author We have an odd front yard. By a quirk of street layout, this part of our property is unusually long and skinny for our neighborhood, meaning we have the sheer frontage to collect not… Continue reading The writer’s dilemma

community, spiritual life

Standing with Tree of Life

"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!" Psalm 133:1 Our city is close enough to Pittsburgh that few people here are more than two degrees of separation away from the Squirrel Hill neighborhood that experienced a mass killing at a synagogue this weekend. One neighbor's sister lives… Continue reading Standing with Tree of Life

community, spiritual life

Looking for a city?

“Earth's crammed with heaven... But only he who sees, takes off his shoes.” Elizabeth Barrett Browning, English poet What do U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren, D-Mass., and the 7,000 or so Central American dreamers who are walking resolutely to America's border have in common? The answer isn't a punchline. It's a universal human condition. They are… Continue reading Looking for a city?