Tag: the church

something new

The death of patriarchy in our society and our church has begun, though slowly.  White men will no longer be in charge. Women will begin to take over and systems which have prevailed for centuries will topple.  Men’s insecurities will no longer motivate what happens on our planet and perhaps...

sticky touch and a kiss

“Touch. It is touch that is the deadliest enemy of chastity, loyalty, monogamy, gentility with its codes and conventions and restraints. By touch we are betrayed and betray others ... an accidental brushing of shoulders or touching of hands ... hands laid on shoulders in a gesture of comfort that...

The Blues

Fortnum and Mason was founded just after 1700 and is one of my favorite ships in London.  One of my great loves is stationary, and they have a fine selection.  They also have demerara sugar which I like in my tea. And marzipan.  And a good english cream tea.  And...

a nose knows

The elephant I lived with for a few weeks in the mountains of Thailand while on sabbatical liked to look at me.  The other mahout made fun of me and called me a Thai name which meant something like “gazer” though I have a sneaking suspicion that it was a...

pinks and blues

This mosaic image of Jesus in The National Cathedral has long been one of my favorites.  But since moving to Denver, it has taken on a new importance because the pinks and blues surrounding Jesus are easily recognizable to anyone who lives here.  This is an evening Denver sky. We...

Sabbath and self-worship

  This is an image from Prague.  I took the photo walking from my home, into the city the day I was hit by a train.  I remember, now, how hard I was working to see Prague - how hard I was working to see every museum, every park, every...

inside painting

This is a two-inch tall Chinese bottle from the early 1800’s and is decorated with what is called “inside painting.”  An artist paints such a bottle on the inside of the glass, backwards, beginning from what would normally be the final strokes on a painting, and working backwards to what...

envy

  Someone recently asked me what one word I would use to sum up America.  Before I could self-edit, I blurted out a word which made the group of a dozen people in a lavish living room go dead silent as if i had just taken off my clothes or...