by David Anderson
Along with my clergy colleagues, Leslie and Jonathan, I was leading a session last night on fasting, a spiritual practice common to the three monotheistic faiths, Judaism, Christianity and Islam. One man in the group said, “I’ve been worshiping as an Episcopalian for 25 years and this is the first I ever remember anyone talking […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Daily Practice, Fear, Grace, Letting Go, Surrender
“You know how you lie when you’re dating?” That’s the way Peter began his story. Early in their relationship, Marsha asked Peter, “What do you like to do?” Peter said, “I like to swim!” And Marsha said, “Um….me too!” So they got married, and went on their honeymoon to the Outer Banks of North […]
by David Anderson 6 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Fear, Grace, Letting Go, Surrender
If like me you loved to read Shel Silverstein to your kids (or you’re lucky enough to be doing it now), you remember “Where the Sidewalk Ends” and “The Giving Tree.” Here’s another Silverstein poem I found, one I didn’t know. It’s a riff on the Pied Piper myth. It’s a poem about staying home—for […]
by David Anderson 2 Comments Filed Under: Community, Family, Fear, Freedom
Jeff Schlachtenhaufen is a big-time icon for me these days. His parents are parishioners of mine, and when Jeff developed pancreatic cancer in October I got to know Jeff—though I’ve never met him in person. He lives in Chicago with his wife Susie and their four children. Jeff has a Caring Bridge website—a blog that […]
by David Anderson 7 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Family, Fear, Healing, Love
When a “star” like Whitney Houston dies in a Beverly Hills hotel bathtub, everyone is shocked. We shouldn’t be, of course. Whitney Houston, like so many stars and starlets before her, slid into drug abuse, did stints in rehab, and lived in an abusive marriage. She was hugely successful—selling over 55 million albums—but like every […]
by David Anderson 3 Comments Filed Under: Change, Faith/Trust, Fear, Freedom, Letting Go, Now/ the Present
“No! I told him I wasn’t coming!” The woman answering her cell phone was talking way loud. I was five rows back on the train and the noise disrupted my conversation with Pam. “I don’t care—I’m not going!” Now the whole car was awkwardly silent, forcibly listening. A young man across the aisle from the […]
by David Anderson 7 Comments Filed Under: Adult Spirituality, Change, Fear, Freedom
On the day after Christmas the work of Christmas begins. If yesterday we welcomed the Prince of Peace, then today we must live under his most gracious rule. Christmas has the power to break down the walls that separate us and unite us as in our common humanity. That power was never more remarkably demonstrated […]
by David Anderson 9 Comments Filed Under: Community, Faith/Trust, Fear, Forgiveness
In this last week of Advent I have been baby blessed. On the shortest day of the year, I held the tiniest child ever placed in my hands. A four-and-a-half pound girl. I held her and thought, You were destined to be, child, because we had to believe that you could live, that you could […]
by David Anderson 4 Comments Filed Under: Faith/Trust, Family, Fear, Gratitude