Missing You: Gaps that aren’t Filled when People Leave…
I came across a beautiful poem by Irish poet Dennis O’Driscoll entitled simply, Missing God. It’s about the societal drift away from God and all the things we lose in that journey. One verse reflects on how different civil marriage ceremonies feel as they avoid words like “everlasting” and “divine”: Miss Him during the civil weddingwhen, at the blossomy altarof the registrar’s desk, we wait in vainto be fed a line containing wordslike “everlasting” and “divine”. If society misses the signs of the Divine it once paid close attention to, it’s also true...
Read MoreOn earning the right to complain…
Much of life is paradoxical. Have you noticed that those with the most to complain about usually don’t, while those whose lot has fallen on pleasant paths often whinge endlessly. I don’t know why, but perhaps those for whom things routinely go right are so accustomed to this fortunate state that they instantly react when something is a little wrong. By contrast, those who regularly struggle are more likely to shrug off a new difficulty with a “well that hardly compares with some of the difficulties I’ve gone through. So let’s just move along.” Rosemary and I saw it very clearly on our...
Read MoreBecause Genius is often just Persistence in Disguise…
I have a PhD. For those who like detail, I earned it for my research into the theological method of Stanley J Grenz and just as he worked to revision evangelical theology, my thesis attempts to revision some of his work. But this post is not about that – did I hear a collective sigh of relief? But it does have a point – a simple one. People have often said to me, “Gosh, you have a PhD. Are you are genius? You must be. That’s so hard to do.” My reply is simple: “Absolutely not. But I am more persistent than most people. And often what people think is genius...
Read MoreAspirational or Actual: Navigating the Gap…
Do you have a picture of an ideal you? What does it look like? My ideal me is wise, kind, loyal, energetic, creative, courageous, prophetic, pastoral, thoughtful, engaged, pure, free, mindful, generous, funny, impacting, sensitive, inclusive, affirming, joyous, hopeful, positive, smart, informed, full of faith and at least a dozen other hopelessly optimistic adjectives and adverbs. He also has the looks and strength of a 30 year old with the insight gained from 80 whirls around the sun. On my better days I am a few of these – but then there are more ordinary days, as well as downright...
Read MoreWhen subtracting is adding: 8 Suggestions for a “don’t do” list
In our FOMO world, saying yes to new opportunities is the new normal. It has many benefits, and certainly it is far better to lean into life and all it offers than to embrace FOGO – the fear of going out and seeing threat and hazard everywhere. But because every yes is also a no, we need to ask if subtracting things from our life is sometimes the best way to add to it. Like me, you probably find yourself more productive with a daily “to do” list. I usually dive into the things that I can achieve quickly and with little effort, finding that adding the little...
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