Lord, teach me. . . .

There is good in everything; it’s just how you choose to look at it.  Everything that’s worth it has a price. –Gisele Bundsen Lately it seems as if every time we turn around, someone is saying That’s not what I meant to say; this is what I meant to say . Newspapers correct their stories; children change their excuses; even the president declares that he misspoke. Admitting one misspoke isn’t a bad thing. Boldly declaring someone else misspoke? Or means something they never actually said? Not so cool. But it happens all the time with the Bible and Jesus’ words. Seriously. How often have you heard someone say, Well, that verse (or passage) doesn’t really mean that! Let me tell you what it really means. . . . And sometimes, these well-meaning folks may raise some good questions; their statements may warrant further examination. Other times? Probably not. The litmus test as to whether someone’s proposed interpretation of Jesus’ words, as far as I am concer...

Let your life lightly dance on the edges of Time like dew on the tip of a leaf.  –Rabindranath Tagore There are a number of times in Scripture where the protagonist in the story decides to dance. For instance, King David dances in the streets before the Ark of the Lord, with great vigor, reckless abandon, and joy (and very little clothing) ( 2 Samuel 6 ). His wife is embarrassed; his subjects are surprised, but nearly as excited as he was. Last Sunday, many preachers were preaching from Mark 6:14-29, the recounting of John the Baptist’s beheading, which came about as a result of some very vigorous dancing on the part of Herod’s wife Herodias. The young girl’s dancing was son wonderful in Herod’s eyes that he offered her whatever she wished—and her conniving mother convinced her to request John’s head, delivered on a platter. Prideful Herod acquiesced. Like Pontius Pilate, who really would have preferred not to be involved in Jesus’ crucifixion and washed his hands...

Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters  cannot be trusted with important matters. –Albert Einstein Have you played that game? Each person takes turns telling three things about themselves. Two of them are true; the third is made up. Everyone else tries to discern what’s true and what’s false. (Here are two truths and a lie about me: I was a Miss USA candidate; I babysat Drew Barrymore; and I was kissed by the Rev. Jesse Jackson. Take your time. . . .) Sometimes it seems like church folks are playing a game of truths and lies about what’s in the Bible. It should be simple, right? I mean, any good concordance can point us to a verse; we can read it and that should tell us what it means. Right? Apparently not. The truth (as I see it) is this: Much of the Bible is, indeed, up for interpretation; however, there are two truths spoken by Jesus which stand as incontrovertible. They cannot be subject to our own interpretation. Have you already figured ...

It doesn’t have to be the blue iris, it could be the weeds in a vacant lot, or a few small stones; just pay attention. . . .  –Mary Oliver Have you noticed lately how loud and how large the world seems to have become? News headlines blare their way across our television screens and our computer screens. Even when we mute the volume, the animosity and noise remain apparent. Mother Nature herself, in my part of the world, seems to be crying out for our attention, sending not rain, but deluge , not wind, but gale force . It is as if we are standing with Elijah at the mouth of the cave, anxiously waiting for some sign, a promised Presence of the Lord. With all the hollering, sometimes it truly feels as if God is nowhere to be found. Do not believe it. Haven’t we had about enough of the loud bullying in the world? Do we even pay attention any more, when those who claim to follow the Christ become bullies of the first order? Where is the quiet, gentle voice of God...

"The Lord has strewn little signs of his presence throughout the universe.  The person who is observant will see these signs  and know where God is to be found." - Eknath Easwaran There is a wonderful tale told of a man who wandered through life seeking evidence of God, in much the same way a game hunter would track animals in the jungle. He would speak with people he met, and when he encountered someone whose life seemed beautifully transformed by the presence of the Holy One, he would think to himself, “Oh, my—those are the tracks of a really BIG elephant!” Sometimes it’s easy to see where God is at work in our own life or the life of another. Fingerprints, hoof tracks—evidence of God-- can often be easy to spot. During this holy season of Lent, it can be even easier to discern what God is up to, as the elephants seem to be bellowing aloud at times. Other times it may seem more like we are tracking field mice, or fireflies. They move so quietly and so qui...