by David Anderson
Advent is about to dawn, and when it does it leads us into quietness and expectation. Basically, Advent has one message in two parts. (1) A savior is coming. And (2) it’s not you. That is why the images and language of the season seem passive and weak. We are asked to stand down, to […]
by David Anderson 7 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
I have a confession to make. Often the Eucharist does nothing for me. It could simply be a case of liturgical bingeing. After all, I celebrated that sacred meal four times on Sunday. That’s enough to make anyone ask to see the menu again. Sometimes I catch myself in the middle of the Great Thanksgiving […]
by David Anderson 8 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
“Our goal should be to live life in radical amazement,” said Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel, “. . . get up in the morning and look at the world in a way that takes nothing for granted. Everything is phenomenal; everything is incredible; never treat life casually. To be spiritual is to be amazed.” When I […]
by David Anderson 11 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
Some years ago Pam and I were invited to a brunch on Easter Sunday morning. A happy crowd of families gathered, fresh from the morning’s buoyant celebration of the resurrection. When it was time to eat, I was deputized to go find the kids. I went downstairs and found them huddled around a computer. I […]
by David Anderson 6 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
Every noon as the clock hands arrive at twelve, I want to tie the two arms together, And walk out of the bank carrying time in bags. -Robert Bly As if our relationship to time weren’t crazy enough, we deliberately throw off our clocks by an hour. Twice a year. You’ve heard about the health […]
by David Anderson 8 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
“August 10, 2008, Saturday afternoon at 1:40 PM. A young woman 300 meters from the south end of the bridge climbed onto the bridge railing. I immediately started my moped, but because I accelerated too quickly, the moped leaked oil and ignited. I had to run to her, but when I was 200 meters away, […]
by David Anderson 12 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
The greatest human problem is a want of love, and the simplest antidote is confessing our love—telling people, “I love you.” Why does anyone need to restate the obvious, since everyone already knows it? Paul McCartney sang, You’d think that people would have had enough of silly love songs I look around me and I […]
by David Anderson 10 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized
I didn’t really want to put on my white robes, slash a purple stole across my body and stand with an ash pot on the train platform before dawn. I don’t enjoy standing in public looking odd—no one does—but it’s more than that. I’m worried that no one else wants to do something “religious” out […]
by David Anderson 22 Comments Filed Under: Uncategorized