English: Press freedom 2019 according to Reporters Without Borders Dark Blue = Good situation Light Blue = Satisfactory situation Gold = Noticeable problems Red = Difficult situation Dark Red = … [Read more...]
A Slow Deep Breath
I don’t know what disgusts me more, the man in the White House presuming to have the power or authority to order houses of worship to open and meet, or houses of worship opening and meeting in the … [Read more...]
Babies with Guns
Protesters at the state capital in Columbus, Ohio I shared this experience before, but it is especially cogent now. One of those moments nearly every parent has experienced, is wedged in the creases … [Read more...]
A Plea Across the Battle Line
Photograph by Laurie Schaull at Creative Commons I am white, male, and affluent by world standards. Still, I know at least a small stab of the knife that Ilhan Omar must feel, and a goodly share of … [Read more...]
Dog & Cat Owners Unite!
So cold the snow crystalized, a weightless carpet of white gleaming diamonds in vivid moonlight and again in the even colder morning wringing moisture from the air. Thank you, Rabia, for getting my … [Read more...]
Contending with Mental Illness
“Co-dependency” emerged as a buzzword in my profession more than a decade ago, and became a catch-all phrase for a dysfunctional congregation. The concept springs from studies observing the long-term … [Read more...]
Some Parenting Advice
It flashes back in my memory as if just yesterday: a six-month-old baby on my shoulder and a three-year old holding my hand as we walked into the grocery. Without warning the three-year-old collapsed … [Read more...]
Savage Character
I am no fan of Donald Trump, far from it. But he is not to blame for synagogue murders, pipe bombs, or the shootings of people of color. Ours is a savage country with a feral character from the … [Read more...]
The Difference Between Truth & Fact
I have been thinking a lot about truth lately. When we hear from talking heads and politicians about fake news or such-and-such politician lying, it often has to do with facts more than truth. We … [Read more...]
A Child Inside
This post appeared first as the weekly feature, "Denim Spirit" published by The Finger Lakes Times (New York). See it in your mind’s eye. A is child rustling, tussling, and pushing his or her way … [Read more...]