The 60-Second Sabbath

Religion

  • Sabbath

    We all need Sabbath:recovery, reconnection, reconstruction.Our vocations inflate like balloonsnear to bursting.Our avocationsevolve into obligations.Social media demandsinstant responsiveness.We are not built for this. Stop. For a day,  or two hours, or just 15 minutes…for God's sake,for your sake,for the sake… Continue reading

  • Great Joy

    It is a great joy,to bring God back to God! "What does this mean?"you ask. Stop asking.Just return.  You are the missing partof Completeness.  Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading

  • Abandonment

    Many of us find great comfortin the assurance that God will never abandon us,but let's examine the record here:she did abandon her only Child,whose chillingly anguished cryfrom the cross to which she was nailed–"My God, my God, why have you… Continue reading

  • Imagination

    Within each of usa piece of the Divine burnsthat many–including in the church–would like to reduce to ashes;I speak of the imagination. Let us grace it with a capital "I":"Imagination." Here is God untamed, unscripted,unfettered, untethered–God allowed to be God,no… Continue reading

  • Try Getting Lost

    Searching for a spiritual discipline?Try getting lost:visit a strange city,leave your baggage at your hotel and start walking.Drift left, veer right,turn toward what distracts you.Nod at people you pass;imagine their lives–as rich and confusing as your own.Say, "Hey, pup!" to curious… Continue reading

  • Grieving and Receiving

    Grieving, believing, receiving. Or maybe not:perhaps it's grieving, receiving, believing. Or possibly it's simply this:grieving and receiving. Shall the believing be optional? Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading

  • The Point

    It's the kneading of the dough,not the bread;the taking of the pictures,not the photos in the frames;the working out,not the body buff and toned. It's the life lived in love,not the silver ticket to heaven. Text, image and audio ©… Continue reading

  • Must Be the Wind

    Adam suddenly announced:"I don't believe in you." Bewildered, God looked around."But I'm right here!That's like saying you don't believe in your hand…or this chair…or sunshine!" "Body parts, furniture and weatherdemand nothing of me;you do.Therefore I choose not to believe." [Cue… Continue reading

  • After One Martini

    After one martiniand half their order of crostini,he confessed:"When it comes to Godand matters of faith,I have many doubts." She put down her glass."Sweetie, that's very good." "Good?" he asked. "Well, yes.Doubts are empty spaces waiting to be filled,like holes… Continue reading

  • The Bigger the Doubter

    The bigger the doubter,the harder (and farther)the fall into faith. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading