by David Anderson
Why is it so hard to trust yourself? Yesterday we heard the story of the two forlorn disciples on the Emmaus Road—who had a vivid, astonishing experience of the risen Christ, only to lose it the next moment. In Luke’s account, as soon as they recognize Christ, he “vanished from their sight.” That vanishing reminds […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Adult Spirituality, Faith/Trust, Letting Go
Sometimes we imagine—those of us who try each day to believe—that it must be nice to be an atheist and be so sure. It must be easy, we think with some rue and a little envy, not to have to prove anything because you swear there’s nothing real beyond what you can prove. C.S. Lewis, […]
by David Anderson 8 Comments Filed Under: Belief, Faith/Trust
“Never fall within sight of the lodge.” That was my friend Bob’s good advice when I was learning to ski more than twenty years ago. He meant, of course—you can fall all you want on the mountain, but when you come shushing down that gentle slope to the base, you have an audience. People are […]
by David Anderson 7 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Grace, Silence
I love the story of the family driving to grandpa and grandma’s for a Christmas get-together. As they passed the Episcopal church where a manger scene was in the yard, the five-year old boy asked about the meaning. “That is Mary, Joseph and the Baby Jesus, there in the manger,” the mother explained. A few […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Awareness, Faith/Trust, Grace
You can die from the flu. How I know is, I’ve been invaded by a virulent bug since New Year’s Eve. The next morning my throat was scratchy and I was coughing. I had a cold, I thought. The next day I could hardly get out of bed. There seemed a half-gallon of crud in my lungs […]
by David Anderson 11 Comments Filed Under: Awareness, Death/Dying, Faith/Trust, Fear, Suffering
My sermon was very short this morning. I read two poems—two excerpts, actually. After hearing the long Lucan story of the nativity on Christmas Eve—with angels and shepherds and barns and tax registrations and long journeys into night—this morning we heard John’s story of the nativity. It’s an elegant, poetic eight words. “The Word became […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Awareness, Faith/Trust, Uncategorized
Last night I hosted the staff Christmas party here at the rectory. In preparing our home for the festivities—which always includes a raucous round of Yankee Swap—I lit all the candles in the living room. Because the room is large and has no ceiling light fixture, we have a number of lamps scattered around. But […]
by David Anderson 7 Comments Filed Under: Awareness, Daily Practice, Faith/Trust, Seeing, Waiting
(It’s All Saints Day.) The saints are always those who are able to do deeds of power—sometimes great things and sometimes very small things, but powerful works. Sometimes their mere presence creates blessing and peace. Goodness follows in their wake. They are like Jesus who “went about doing good” (Acts 10:38). This goodness, though, easily […]
by David Anderson 6 Comments Filed Under: Death/Dying, Faith/Trust, Grace, Letting Go, Repentance, Uncategorized, Vocation/ Calling