“The soul is dyed the color of its thoughts.”     Marcus Aurelius Thanksgiving may be very tough this year unless we make this holiday a time for truly Giving Thanks. As I sat down to write this I found myself thinking about a time in my life when giving thanks for anything was very difficult.  Our 16-year-old son was dying, his medical bills were fast approaching   [Read More …]

 Be patient toward all that is unsolved in your heart and try to love the questions themselves. Rainer Maria Rilke   How can all of us from every walk of life and every state in this great nation heal the great divide that is tearing us apart, and how can we learn to appreciate each other’s point of view and love each other despite our differences? When answers seem to be non-existent,   [Read More …]

“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 …]