In 1959, more innocent days, the Kingston Trio sang The Merry Minuet: “The whole world is festering with unhappy souls, the French hate the Germans, the Germans hate the Poles, Italians hate Yugoslavs, South Africans hate the Dutch, and I…
My writing life
(I need to get this off my computer or I will never get any writing done.) Write Write Delete Write Edit Google
The benefits and drawbacks of boundaries
I have a love/hate relationship with boundaries. On the plus side, they protect my family and me and all that I care about. Years ago a friend said, “Your right to swing your arm stops where my nose starts.” I…
My favorite religious films
By religious, I mean movies about faith, not necessarily Christian or so-called family values. Sometimes, the movies ask tough questions. They are not always inspirational. I have never particularly liked movies about Jesus, because, in my opinion, no movie even…
Sacred clowns and cusswords
Tony Hillerman writes about Native American culture, mostly about the Navajos. He writes mysteries. I learn a lot about cultures different from mine when I read his novels. For example, in Sacred Clowns, a few folks are watching a Hopi…
Take care of yourself
About twenty years ago, as our daughters were becoming adults, I began using a parting mantra that was new to me. Instead of a simple “Good-bye” or “I love you” or “Be good,” I began to say, “Take care of…
‘We admitted we were powerless’
By Marion Aldridge You don’t have to get on an airplane or traverse an ocean to make discoveries. About 25 years ago, I began visiting church basements and other community rooms where, once or twice each week, men and women…
‘We admitted we were powerless….’
You don’t have to get on an airplane or traverse an ocean to make discoveries. About twenty-five years ago, I began visiting church basements and other community rooms where, once or twice each week, men and women gathered to talk…
Wedding toast
Julie and Tom come from parents and families that have been good examples to them for almost three decades. I am grateful that their success in marriage does not depend on one of us giving a brilliant toast on this…
Beware of addiction — and know its signs
“To be alive is to be addicted, and to be alive and addicted is to stand in need of grace.” Gerald May For reasons that go back a few generations, I am interested in addiction. I have studied it, and…
The heroics of helping others
Who prefers discomfort to comfort? Not me, but sometimes, it’s necessary. I favor tasty food, sweet smells, a good night’s rest (plus an afternoon nap, if possible). I enjoy warm, moderate temperatures, not too cold, not too hot. I like…
Does your congregation need a ‘church search committee’?
By Marion Aldridge What kind of congregation do you want? That query precedes the probe into the kind of person you want as pastor. For 15 years I trained churches and their pastor search committees. In recent months, I have…