A strong sense of purpose is often pointed to as the premise for a life that matters. Today I stood in the rain with students calling for justice. I felt purpose as I prayed with them during this divisive time in American history. But unlike the passion put on display by the young people that … Continue reading A Burning and Impotent Outrage
James K.A. Smith writes, "In many ways the broader culture lacks the imagination to imagine the world otherwise...Our most primary and fundamental mode of 'understanding' is more literary than logical: we are the kind of creatures who make our way in the world more by metaphor than mathematics. The way we 'know' is more like … Continue reading Can you hear them now?
Sometimes I feel lost. Sometimes I feel anxious. I have even felt as if I were having an anxiety attack, and I don’t even know what one feels like? My heart rate quickens. I feel warm and tingly. How is this different than feeling good? Sometimes I feel like this even in church. What should … Continue reading Real and withered
"Reading is a form of prayer, a guided meditation that briefly makes us believe we’re someone else, disrupting the delusion that we’re permanent and at the center of the universe. Suddenly (we’re saved!) other people are real again, and we’re fond of them." —George Saunders The first book I remember lusting after was concerned with … Continue reading Brother Matt’s bookstore
It was an accepted practice at my church that in order to be a part of the youth group you had to be twelve. When I was eleven this was an injustice of cataclysmic proportions. Not one to accept artificial boundaries, I wormed my way into as many youth meetings and events as I could … Continue reading Vacuuming for Jesus
The Loyd family patriarchs are of a stoic silent breed. Part of the Greatest Generation that served their family, and would have served their country but were exempted because of the responsibility to care for their mother and sisters, as their father was deceased. Early in their lives they learned the value of hard work. … Continue reading A Loyd family patriarch passes
Kim What a gem She wears a fanny pack filled to the brim With what you say? That is our subject today To explore its contents celebrating each along the way Kim wears this fanny pack on her hipSecured tightly as not to slip It is filled with lovely sights And all who come close rejoice in its delights Zip it open slowly to the … Continue reading For my sister on her birthday.
Yesterday a young man sat in my office. A young Black man. A young Black man who was recently appointed to lead The Black Student Association on our predominately white campus. He shared his heart with me. He told me that he was apprehensive about leading at this time with all that is happening in … Continue reading I’m not prepared. But I’m ready.
Today I heard a gospel message. The message gave me hope. I thought of the brokenness of our world and how many have lost the ability to cope. A divided world filled with vitriol and fearLost little girls shedding multiple single solitary tearsStill the gospel gives me hope. I heard a gospel message. A life, death, and life … Continue reading Today I heard a gospel message.
"Shut up and preach the gospel" is a refrain that has been shared with me several times a year. Not exactly in those words perhaps, but that is the intent. As I reflect on the events of this year and how we should respond to cultural and political issues, it occurs to me that underlying … Continue reading When folks tell me to “Shut up and Preach the Gospel.”
