The timing of this post’s subject matter may seem off at first glance. As I write this, the battle for Ukraine and especially Kiev continues. The incredible courage of the Ukrainian leaders and people in the face of a massive onslaught is inspiring much of the world. It is unknown at this point where this… Read More Have you ever seen a frustrated tulip? Or a worried bird?
I have wondered when or even whether to write this blog post. Certainly it was going to be difficult to do with the physical fatigue I experienced in the aftermath of getting Covid-19 in late September. That fatigue only lifted in the past few weeks, but still I weighed writing this post. These past months… Read More How to Survive ‘Friendly Fire’
One of the most illustrious Apostolic learning communities in history, the Church of the East monastery called Beit Abe (or Beit Abhe), has also been one of the most elusive in knowing the actual location. Begun in 595 by Rabban Jacob, this monastery became perhaps the primary mission sending location for those going to places… Read More Do you know the way to Beit Abe?
Sometimes there are seasons when the need to express lament for personal or group pain seems even more acute. In recent weeks, our mission agency endured the worst accident in its history, with eleven key leaders killed in Tanzania. One of them we had known quite closely for about thirty years. Others were known to… Read More Do you feel at times like broken pieces? Lament is expressed in different ways
What is the condition of your ‘heart’ starting 2024? For me, my actual physical heart needed a check. In 2021 during a year long struggle with ‘long covid’, my doctor recommended I do an echocardiogram. This was the first time in my life for that, and as the test went on and the technician looked… Read More What is the condition of your ‘heart’ starting 2024?
A phrase has been coming to my mind for 2024 as this year draws rapidly to an end: Stay in your lane. It may just be advice for me, but perhaps it might resonate for you. Most of us have experienced the irritation or even terror of being behind or near or opposite another driver… Read More Stay in your lane in 2024
Two photos, before and after. The first is of a tree in our yard and the glories of the red leaves. The beauty of the fall colors in the Pacific Northwest in the USA are stunning. Reds, oranges, greens, yellows abound for several weeks in a feast of the splendor of life and creation. But… Read More What leaves are falling in your life?
It has now been over two weeks since the devastating attack by Hamas on Israel, resulting in continuing death and destruction in Gaza. There seems to be no end in sight, with over 200 Israeli and other nationalities held as hostages by Hamas, and Israel preparing for a ground invasion into Gaza while continuing bombing… Read More Lamenting but not without hope
I love to read, write and teach history. My love of history goes back to when I was about 10 years old. A few months ago a beloved uncle died, one who fed this developing passion by sending me history books in the mail from about that same age. One of the great encouragements of… Read More The Call of a Historian: To Lament with Hope
A few weeks ago, I reached the age of 64. And of course the obvious song that goes with that milestone is the Beatles hit, ‘Will you still need me, when I’m 64?’ I had heard it first when I was eight years old, when it was released on the Yellow Submarine album in 1967.… Read More ‘Will you still need me, when I’m 64?’
I made a new ‘friend’ last year. A beautiful black Australian swan with a red beak. This last couple of weeks I have seen him again by a pond near where we are staying. I don’t have a name for my friend yet, yet already I have learned things and been comforted by his presence… Read More Who accompanies you on your journey of life and death?
This is my first blog post in several weeks. With my involvement in several nations since early in the year, time and more importantly energy to write has been lacking. But this post you are presently reading has been in the crafting for some time, at least in my brain and emotions. It concerns a… Read More It can be messy in the Belly of a Whale
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