“The best way of breaking down barriers between people or communities is through simple, unforced acts of kindness. One act can undo years of estrangement.”- Rabbi Jonathan Sacks, Former Chief Rabbi of the United Kingdom The most critical of the underlying assumptions of the American experiment in representative democracy is that we will listen to […]
I was just outside listening to a thunder shower sweep through the Grand Valley. And I was taken in by the beauty of the clouds, the rain, and the water. And so, began my reflection on beauty. What is beauty? It’s the lone little flower with a magnificent purple bud bursting through the concrete sidewalk. […]
As a pastor/preacher, I often write and preach within the framework of “call and good news”; call to action followed by good news of grace, hope, peace, and/or love. Today I do not have either a call or good news to share. Today, I ask for space to confess. I confess with all that’s happening […]
There are many reasons why I am a member of Together Colorado. Our work here gives me the chance to embody God’s call to move and act for the regeneration and care of all God has made. Together Colorado gatherings are the only consistently multiracial spaces I have found in Denver, something I seek out […]
While I have participated on various commissions, councils and ministries since my early teens and even studied organizational (administration) and community development (planning) in graduate school, training in organizing remained a gap for me. As it turned out, most of my career ended up in research and providing resources and guidance for those in public service, mainly […]
Recently, our Faith Table listened to a Walter Brueggemann discussion of “What is a Prophet?” Brueggemann’s book, Prophetic Imagination, was written 40 years ago, but it is creating new discussions about how faith leaders can help their members navigate a cultural environment of conflict and false narratives. The concept of prophetic imagination can help us look beyond the discouraging […]
This week, Rolling Stone released an article about U.S. House Representative and Civil Rights trailblazer John Lewis. “I hate to say it, but I think we’re in deep trouble,” Lewis told Rolling Stone’s Jamil Smith. “You worry about our future, as a people and as a nation. Sometimes you’re afraid to go to sleep, to turn off […]
By taking care with our language and messaging concerning gender, race, class, age, physical abilities, nationality, theological beliefs, culture, lifestyle, and the other ways that we describe and categorize humans, we affirm and empower all people and we hold as truth that we are all magnificently created and beloved by God. I try to recognize […]
Prayer is not an activity that competes with other activities; it is the basis of every activity. Work is prayer. Writing is prayer. Gardening is prayer. Since the intention of prayer or meditation practice is to come face to face with Mystery, the unity of prayer and action is essential. Prayer purifies intentions. With prayer, no other […]
We are living in a time when the line between fact and falsehood, truth and lie is becoming increasingly blurred and confusing, especially when we cease to be intellectually vigilant and morally faithful. Every day, it seems, our integrity is being challenged, our sympathies are becoming numb, our commitment to justice is waning from the […]
