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Addicted to Success
I think a close cousin of being “addicted to success” is being addicted to relevance. It’s a problem. “It is often believed that President Teddy Roosevelt called social comparison the ‘thief of joy.’ Whether he said it or not, it’s true: researchers have long found that social comparison lowers our happiness. But you hardly need a study to tell you…
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Aging properly
A few months ago I began to process what “the last third” of my life should look like. I have been more earnest about that mainly because of the work of Arthur Brooks. I listened to a talk he gave a few years go, then an article with the same basic material, and I knew I needed to pay attention…
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Love overcomes cynicism
“Cynicism is the greatest barrier to love. It is rooted in doubt and despair. Fear intensifies our doubt. It paralyzes. Faith and hope allow us to let fear go. Fear stands in the way of love. When we take to hear the biblical insistence that ‘there is no fear in love,’ we understand the necessity of choosing courageous thought and…
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Worth Your Time
A couple of columns I came across this past weekend are worth your time. First, Christian Nationalism IS real. Far more real than the sneaky “CRT” conspiracy a lot of people hold to while they declare they are NOT Christian Nationalists. David French gives a solid example of what this looks like in real time in Russia.
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A prayer for peace
Eternal God, in whose perfect kingdom no sword is drawn but the sword of righteousness, no strength known but the strength of love: So mightily spread abroad your Spirit, that all peoples may be gathered under the banner of the Prince of Peace; to whom be communion and glory, now and forever. Amen. (BCP, 2019)
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Friendships are not escapes from loneliness
“We all long for loving community. It enhances life’s joy. But many of us seek community solely to escape the fear of being alone. Knowing how to be solitary is central to the art of loving. When we can be alone, we can be with others without using them as a means of escape.” — bell hooks, All About Love…
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The hard work of love and friendship
“When we see love as the will to nurture one’s own or another’s spiritual growth, revealed through acts of care, respect, knowing, and assuming responsibility, the foundation of all love in our life is the same… Genuine love is the foundation of our engagement with ourselves, with family, with friends, with partners, with everyone we choose to love.” — bell…
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Spiritual growth and chaos
A few days ago I reflected on the death of Rich Mullins 25 years ago and shared thoughts from Tish Harrison Warren when she wrote about the impact of Rich Mullins. There was a lot of interaction from that post from friends who remembered how Rich Mullins’ music impacted them as well. One comment was to recommend a book, Messy…
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American Christianity, Sexual Ethics, and Political Power
This episode is worth your time. “Evangelical” Christians once complained about the power and overreach of government. The “solution” they present today? Take control of the government and make everyone else submit. This episode covers that and SO much more.
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Dealing with difficult history
I have found a podcast series called “Presidential.” It’s a few years old now, but it takes the listener from Washington to Biden, giving each president one episode. One episode for Abraham Lincoln. One episode for Rutherford B Hayes. Quite the challenge. I am posting a link to the one on Jefferson, but you can find it on your favorite…
