During my son’s late baseball practice, I looked up at the lights, delighted to see bats busily hunting that night’s dinner. Bats lack the grace of birds in flight, their wings swatting at the air rather than smoothly beating in steady strokes, making their round, hairy bodies wobble. Flight for a mammal must be challenging,…
Category: Personal Essay
Specter of a Cat
I live on land and in a house filled with ghosts and specters. I sleep in the room in which my great-grandfather drew his last breath and where his children and grandchildren stayed up to sit with his body the night before his funeral. Family legend says he had an argument with the pastor at…
The Bully In My Brain
This week I fell victim to the cold that claimed my son last week. While it did not keep me from regular obligations, it did steal my focus for writing. I offer you this in absence of something from this week. It’s a reflection I wrote a couple of weeks ago. Several friends are struggling…
Turning Toward the Sun, Firmly Rooted
A friend received more flowers and plants than she could count upon her husband’s death. Both of them have earned the love of many, and people wanted to show their respect during the week of his funeral. Roses, mums, mixed bouquets, and baskets overflowing with potted plants littered the double parlor, so much so that…
Daffodils and Invisible Growth
“Why do you love daffodils so much?” My kids and I find car rides provide the best opportunity to speak of matters both trivial and profound. My middle child comes up with great challenges like: What animal do you think I would be if I weren’t a human? What color would you be…other than purple?…
Showing Up for One Another: A Lenten Reflection
The story of Elijah’s ascension conjures a fantastic image of a chariot of fire with blazing horses swooping down from the heavens to carry him to God. Elisha remains where he stands, having had the chariot pass between him and his master as it took Elijah away. Remarkably, the scripture reports that Elijah watched the…
Not Liking the Same Things
Something strange occurred early on in one of my adult friendships, resulting in a considerable shift in my perspective and understanding of relationships. I learned that you do not have to like the same things as those closest to you. That may sound obvious, but hearing it for the first time lifted a veil from…
A Frog, A Full Room, and Learning to Speak
The first slide showed the logo for the camp. The second showed a giant green front with a juicy pink earthworm hanging out of its mouth. The kids giggled as they shouted, “Ew! Gross!” I laughed, too, as my face turned red, and I attempted to explain the picture. Unlike the rest of my classmates,…
The Seriousness of the Youngest Disciples
Many years ago, in my first position as a priest. I served a very small congregation in South Georgia. Long-time members welcomed transient ones from the Air Force base down the road. We loved it when these families arrived, even if we knew we would have them for less than five years. Their children especially…
Fighting Potential
I hate the word “potential.” Teachers, adults, mentors, and peers have told me, “You have such potential!” for as long as I can remember. As a child, I proudly wore it as if it were another gold metallic sticker the teachers pasted to our chests on days when we were “really good.” Exceptional. That’s another…
Prayerful Kitchen 