Redemption is Always Possible I have been accused occasionally of being a “softie” — trusting folks, being naive and not street smart, seeing the best in others. (In my defense, I’d say that’s not too bad for a clergy person!) And I could go on: years being against the death penalty because of the endemic…

The Epidemic of Loneliness Apparently, loneliness is now considered an “epidemic” — at least in the news and in scientific reports. So this state is on my mind — but let me make it very clear that I am not lonely. No, in fact just the opposite. My life is blessed with friends and family,…

We’re All In This Together This past week I went to one of my favorite mountain destinations south of Charlottesville, Virginia: Wintergreen Resort on top of Afton Mountain. Filled with skiers in wintertime … but in the summer, you name it! Hiking, tennis, swimming, ziplining … and, of course, lots of restaurants to enjoy up…

Solving Problems by Walking … or, Here’s Another Idea A few weeks back, another op-ed piece appeared in The New York Times that caught my eye. Andrew McCarthy wrote “Whatever the Problem, It’s Probably Solved by Walking” (March 26, 2023). I know, I know: I’ve blogged about walking before, but as I’ve said, David and…

We Need Each Other — at Work, at Play, in Every Way — to be Fully Human I’ve noticed recently a spate of articles appearing in newspapers and magazines about our need for other humans in our lives — from our workspaces to our social lives generally — articles about our interdependence as a species,…

Looking for Paradise The name of an old friend, Pico Iyer, appeared in the byline of an op-ed titled “The Trouble With Paradise” in the Sunday, Jan. 15 edition of The New York Times. Not actually a personal friend, Iyer is someone who inspired me greatly in a book he published a few years back:…

The Spirituality of Walking An Awe-Full (or Awe-Filled!) Experience You who know my habits know that a daily walk or two is a really must-do activity. So David and I take at least one walk, usually around the neighborhood or nearby park, each day – two if we’re lucky. (See my lead photo and the…

The Joy of Wine A Drink of the Gods – Almost as Old as Humankind Itself Some of you know that if I am really lucky, along about mid to late afternoon, I retire upstairs to pray, think, read, and relax at the end of a usually busy and sometimes crazy day. I refer to…

  Knowing God through the Lens of Two of My Favorite Writers: Frederick Buechner and James Martin If you ever happened to wander inside St. Mark’s Episcopal Church in the Museum district of Richmond, Virginia, or into historic St. John’s Church on Church Hill downtown – either of them when I was preaching – probably…

  Learning to Fall … Again and Again David and I enjoy reading books together before bedtime. I read four or five pages out loud and then he reads four or five pages … usually until the next page break. Interestingly most, if not all, of our joint reading experience involves books that I have…