always be open (by e.e. cummings) may my heart always be open to little birds who are the secrets of living whatever they sing is better than to know and if men should not hear them men are old   may my mind stroll about hungry and fearless and thirsty and supple and even if […]

I love to read broadly. On the weekend, I read both the Wall Street Journal  and the New York Times. I read conservative theologians, and progressive ones. Same with listening ... I love to listen to traditional teachers and preachers as well as edgy, progressive thinkers. I love to listen to bright, thoughtful people who […]

I have to drive to Cedar Rapids weekly for allergy shots. At first I was bummed. Two or three wasted hours every week. But I was wrong ... Because I decided to listen to podcasts from the weekly radio show, "On Being." I listened to one on the way down, one on the way back. […]

You can get all A's and still flunk life. (Walker Percy)

"For those who feel their lives are a grave disappointment to God, it requires enormous trust and reckless, raging confidence to accept that the love of Jesus Christ knows no shadow of alteration or change." (Brennan Manning)

Reading Richard Rohr again this morning and came across this gem: "Holier-than-thou people usually end up holier than nobody." Oh my, is that good! Reminds me of a story Jesus told in the Gospel of Luke. Luke writes: [Jesus] told his next story to some who were  complacently pleased with themselves over their moral performance […]