by David Anderson
My father was afraid to fall. With good reason: he is 96 years old. Almost a year ago his blood pressure was so low he got dizzy and collapsed. Luckily he wasn’t injured, but he got it in his head—The most important thing is: Do Not Fall. Dad got a walker and wheelchair. He didn’t […]
by David Anderson 4 Comments Filed Under: Awareness, Faith in Action, Family, Fear, Freedom, Letting Go
All of us are gifted. All of us have something to offer. All of us can touch a life and be a blessing. We often imagine that other people are gifted, other people can make a difference, but we doubt our own powers of blessing. It’s because we trust in bigness-as-greatness. If I can’t deliver […]
by David Anderson 6 Comments Filed Under: Death/Dying, Faith in Action, Grace
“If your life’s work can be accomplished in your lifetime, you’re not thinking big enough.” -Wes Jackson Those words gave me pause—a big pause. I read them in an article about sustainable agriculture (as a South Dakota native it’s sad to see the systematic poisoning of the earth as the basis for our agri-business). Wes […]
by David Anderson 6 Comments Filed Under: Community, Daily Practice, Faith in Action, Hope, Service, Uncategorized, Vocation/ Calling
At thirteen I learned to drive a car with an automatic transmission, but as a teen-aged, car-crazed boy there were a lot of cars—some hot—that were off-limits to those who could not work a standard transmission. I was determined to learn. My coolness was at stake. Our one car was an automatic, but my grandfather, […]
by David Anderson 1 Comment Filed Under: Change, Faith in Action, Fear, Love, Uncategorized, Vocation/ Calling
“If I can do anything for you—anything!—just let me know.” You will hear that if someone in your life dies. We heard it plenty the last few days. Pam’s father died on Friday, and between the hour of his death and the hour of his funeral on Sunday, we were flat out. Pam was tired […]
by David Anderson 7 Comments Filed Under: Death/Dying, Faith in Action, grief, Service
On March 7, 1965, 600 civil rights marchers left Selma, Alabama for Montgomery. Governor George Wallace called the march a threat to public safety and vowed to do all in is power to prevent this rabble from marching all the way to his office in Montgomery. When the 600 came to the Edmund Pettis Bridge, […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Change, Community, Faith in Action, Fear, Forgiveness, Justice/Peace, Repentance
I lit a fire in the hearth this morning and turned on the lights of the bare Christmas tree. It was six a.m., cold outside with a grey morning light. Nine days before Christmas Eve. Twenty little children have been killed in their classrooms, festooned with holiday decorations and happily cluttered with Christmas crafts. I […]
by David Anderson 4 Comments Filed Under: Change, Community, Faith in Action, Forgiveness, Grace, Healing, Mercy, Repentance
It happens every year. We get off to such a beautiful start in Advent, and then he shows up. This season of hope and expectation opens with the lighting of the first purple candle and a glorious reading from Isaiah. Then comes the second Sunday of Advent, and he makes his annual appearance, the man […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Change, Faith in Action, Forgiveness, Repentance, Waiting