As it turns out, for all the struggles we have paying bills, repairing aging buildings, dealing with consistory meetings, and dealing with the dwindling numbers

At our 20-year class reunion, one of the ringleaders apologized. Apparently, he had his own Damascus Road experience. Still, I couldn’t muster up enough Ananias-like

I share this story because in it, I experienced something true.

I’ve been thinking about this juxtaposition of reflections, one on the loss of laughter, the other on the loss of weeping. In both instances, the

She shrugged off our attempts to put her height in a more positive light and went back to slouching in her chair and ignoring us.

In retirement, my wife and I have ended up at an Episcopal Church. And a handful of my retired ministerial colleagues have done the same.

I am really not one to jump into random conversations with strangers. I don’t typically mingle after church and I even get a little nervous

Somehow, they both decided they needed to take a walk. We don’t know if new life was a problem, or if it was nervous energy.

I pause after parking. I sit with the sensation with intentional compassion. The reason for the heavy feeling becomes apparent: anxiety about an upcoming conversation.