Category Archives: Weekly Overtones

“Everything is a gift. The degree to which we are awake to this truth is a measure of our gratefulness, and gratefulness is a measure of our aliveness.” ― David Steindl-Rast     As I may have mentioned in a previous post or two, I can’t swim. It’s probably my biggest regret. It’s also embarrassing;Continue reading “Awake”

John  21:15-19 Yesterday my daughter Megan discovered the skeleton in the Lutheran closet. She sent me a text with this link from Wikipedia – Martin Luther’s On the Jews and Their Lies. Wittenberg, 1543. Underneath was her comment – “Well shit. I didn’t know about this.” I understand and share her disappointment. In 1543, threeContinue reading “Skeletons”

A few weeks ago I heard a song coming out of my son John‘s room that sounded familiar, but I couldn’t place the group. So, I went and asked John who he was listening to. He looked kind of sheepish and hesitantly said “the New Pornographers.” “That’s awesome,” I replied. They are one of myContinue reading “What’s in a name?”

Let the wise also listen and gain in learning, and the discerning acquire skill. (Proverbs 1:5) Before we begin, I would like you to take a deep breath with me. Deep breath in…hold it…hold it…now let it out. There. Repeat as necessary. When I’m stressed I have a tendency to hold my breath. And thoughContinue reading “The Rule of Benedict (Slight Return)”

When the day of Pentecost had come, they were all together in one place. 2 And suddenly from heaven there came a sound like the rush of a violent wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting. 3 Divided tongues, as of fire, appeared among them, and a tongue rested on each of them. 4 All of themContinue reading “Unfinished Business or… You say you want a revolution”

An abundance of stamps Well I’m the enemy of treason Enemy of strife Enemy of the unlived meaningless life – Bob Dylan “False Prophet” I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. – John 10:10 My father-in-law passed away this weekend after a very long and full life. Even in the nursingContinue reading “Abundance”

(This is part 2 in a series on Joan Chittister’s book on the Rule of St. Benedict.) “The word humility has an odious tone in a world where the attention on ‘I’ is so much more central than the value of ‘we.’” Joan Chittister, Radical Spirit I once counseled a woman who was experiencing aContinue reading “Surrender”

We limp along, always seeking God but forever wondering why we must struggle against the lust for perfection, why all the prayers we say are not enough to release us from the albatross of ourselves.1 I feel like I’ve been drifting a bit lately. Not always aimlessly, but drifting nonetheless. That may explain why thisContinue reading “Structure”

“Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.” ― Maurice Switzer “Even fools are thought wise if they keep silent, and discerning if they hold their tongues.” ― Proverbs 17:28, NIV “Keep your mouth shut and your own front doorstep clean.” ― Sean Connery I noticedContinue reading “Silence”