Humility
-
On Disagreement
How well do we disagree? How well do we– as individuals, as a culture, as a nation in the world arena–disagree? Part of maturity,part of an evolved faith,is the ability to disagree with respect, with… Continue reading
-
Good Dough
Like a good doughdestined to become fragrant, hot bread,dripping with melted butter and sweet honey,I, too, occasionally need to be punched down,deflated,returned to an earlier state,and left in a warm, quiet placeto rise again. Like a good dough,I, too, relish a… Continue reading
-
Maundy Thursday
It's probably not your feetmost in need of washing,but let Jesus begin there,and when he's done,you may have the courageto request a fuller cleansing. I mean, he's already here (right?)with the basin,the warm water,the clean towel,those beautiful, gentle hands, soon to… Continue reading
-
Essential Self
You are not your history;your history is not you. You are not your family;your family is not you. You are not what you believe;your beliefs are not you. You are not your accomplishments;what you've done is not you. You are… Continue reading
-
The Set Up
Tell me I'm handsome,tell me I'm smart,tell me I can do and become whatever I want, and when I encounter failure,when I make mistakes,when I face reality, I will doubt myself,wonder what's wrong with me,realize I can't possibly be … Continue reading
-
Advent Lament
No, you come to early, Lord Jesus:Just announced, yet here it is, two weeks from your arrival. We've got too much to do… Chex Mix to make, cookies to bake.Thank God (I mean, thank your Father) … Continue reading
-
The Approach
Advent, and who is this approaching? What hidden self emerges from the woods, the crawl space, the garden labyrinth? What time-hidden, reclusive divine embodiment has Word to give, Word to enflesh, my Word, that… Continue reading
-
Voice of the Mountain
"It's the wind," he told me,"nothing more." But I'd heard the voice,deep and resonant and beckoning.I could not make out all the words… "Wind," he repeated. …but could tell–just by the tone–it's old, wise, weary. "The mountain has no voice,and… Continue reading
-
How Poetry Works, Revisited
"Poetry?No, I don't generally read poetry.I don't get it." "Of course not," she said."Poetry isn't gotten;it's absorbed.You read it,and read it,and read it,and then it's inside of you, and you are someone else." Text and image © 2014 by Dirk… Continue reading
-
Because Things Do
Things fall apart then reassemble.Life unravels then weaves back together.The water overwhelms then recedes. This is always the pattern; we've lived it 1,000 times, survived it 1,000 times. Yet always between the disaster … Continue reading