"A tree brings glory to God by being a tree." (Thomas Merton)

I wonder if I really understand the challenge Jesus gives when he tells me the most important commandment is to love God and love neighbor. I often convince myself the call to love is too simple, too shallow, too easy. I make up other goals, other things I believe matter more. And I aim for […]

I went out to lunch with my parents yesterday, which is always a treat. My parents are almost 80 years old. My dad still works full-time as the senior partner in his law firm. My mom works for my dad most afternoons. They go out to lunch together almost every day. Occasionally, I get invited […]

One of the main reasons that many of us refuse to get involved with hurting people is that we believe we need to fix them. And we know we can’t. A friend whose child has cancer… A friend whose spouse walks out… A stranger in need… We know we do not have an easy answer. […]

James writes, “We all stumble in many ways. Anyone who is never at fault in what they say is perfect, able to keep their whole body in check.” (James 3:2) Jesus says, “… for the mouth speaks what the heart is full of.” (Luke 6:45) I have been pondering these passages of Scripture in light […]

Do you ever read a passage from Scripture that feels like you've never read it before? I am making my way through 1 Corinthians and landed on a very familiar section this morning ... Don't you know that you yourselves are God's temple and that God's Spirit dwells in your midst? If anyone destroys God's temple, […]