“It made a difference to this one . . .” I do not know who first told the story of the little boy who was throwing starfish stranded on the sand back into the ocean.  What I remember is that when he was asked what difference did it make when he couldn’t help all of them, he picked one up, threw it back into the water and said, “It made a difference to this one.” And so it is that our   [Read More …]

“All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good men to do nothing.”    Edmund Burke Never in the history of America has each person’s vote been so important.  And never before have we had a President who is doing everything he can to discourage voting.   Which means if we are to survive as a democracy it is up to each of us to vote and do everything we can to encourage our   [Read More …]

“Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God.  Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage.  The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”   Matthew 6:6 – The Message Whether we have a little or a lot, it’s easy to believe that sharing our financial resources is the only way we can give to God, but   [Read More …]

“Reciprocity means we are only a healthy community if we’re taking care of everybody.”  Edgar Villanueva, Decolonizing Wealth Some concepts ought to be intuitive, but when we finally recognize their truth we’re embarrassed at how long it has taken to sink into our hearts, into our brains, into our souls. After my husband and I went to Israel and Palestine in 2005 with a Faith &   [Read More …]

"Each of you should give what you have decided in your hearts to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver." — 2 Corinthians 9:7 (NIV) If you are lucky, sometime during your life you will have an experience as profoundly moving as Jim Marsh Jr. had when he visited his friend Kim Montroll in Haiti some years ago.  An elderly couple they encountered on a walk fed   [Read More …]

When I am feeling overwhelmed, Lord, I will pray . . . Yesterday I started crying for no apparent reason and losing control like that really got to me.  Given how much the virus has disrupted our lives, none of us should be surprised when that happens now and then  Calm me down when I’m feeling anxious, Lord, and Remind me that tears bring physiological relief to hurting hearts and   [Read More …]

When I am feeling overwhelmed, Lord, I will pray  . . . At a Faith and Money workshop years ago I learned the importance of praying the newspaper.  That idea resonated with me, and as I followed that practice over the years I found that it helped me cope with those things beyond my control and calmed my fears. As the virus swirls around us, I am praying . . . This pandemic is   [Read More …]

 “You insult your Maker when you exploit the powerless; when you’re kind to the poor, you honor God.” from The Message, Proverbs 14:31   The July 6 / July 13 issue of TIME magazine included an article titled, “12 Ways Trump Has Deepened Inequality.”   All can be devastating to the people they impact and all are mean spirited, but three in particular hit families   [Read More …]

Don’t be like the people of this world, but let God change the way you think.” Romans 12:2, The Poverty and Justice Bible Whether for good or bad, one thing is certain about pandemic financial decisions: we aren’t spending our money the way we used to.  It isn’t coming in the way it used to be either.  That makes this a perfect time for each of us to take a good, hard look at the role   [Read More …]

 “We will not make an endorsement in the presidential primary election, but will happily endorse almost any general election candidate running against Donald Trump.”       That blunt statement is from a 2019 summary of the Patriotic Millionaires, “a group of high-net worth Americans who share a profound concern about the destabilizing level of inequality in   [Read More …]