I have told lots of young people that one of the most important developmental tasks of young adulthood is choosing a mentor. We envision ourselves as an adult in the world doing something we consider important and enjoyable, and we look to someone probably already in the field that is doing just that. One of … Continue reading Merton My Mentor
Debates, Debacles, & Discernment
So honestly, I did not watch the Presidential Debate last week. There were several reasons why. To begin with, it was starting right at my bedtime and I’m trying to adjust my schedule for Fall and Winter. Just like when I was a child and Dad and Mom wouldn’t let me start television shows that … Continue reading Debates, Debacles, & Discernment
Inner Journey
I’m going on a journey. I'm leaving tomorrow. It will be an extended trek that will last several weeks. It will be an adventure, and I love adventures. But I will not actually be leaving home. I will not be booking flights or packing suitcases. I will not have to have a passport or boarding … Continue reading Inner Journey
More like the Monks
I’m heading to a holy place. In a few days I will be driving to the knobs of Kentucky, to Nelson County in the heart of bourbon country, to spend some precious time in silence and solitude. For nearly 30 years I have been making an annual pilgrimage to the Abbey of Gethsemani. It started … Continue reading More like the Monks
Hands
This weekend was an anniversary of sorts. Each September 22 marks another year of my ordained ministry; 27 years and counting at this point. I reflected on that event and wrote this piece which I shared with some others who were just beginning their journey. Men’s hands, women’s hands, left hands, right hands—I do not … Continue reading Hands
30 Seconds Please
Moving feels like it takes forever! At least it was feeling that way to me. Laura and I were clearing the house where we had lived for 16 years—not exactly forever, but no small amount of time either. It’s a hard job to go through that many years of memories. The moving trucks had already … Continue reading 30 Seconds Please
Character in the Making 