Letter to the Editor February 7, 2022 Dear Editor: Like many who are attempting to observe and interpret the social upheaval that is so constantly oppressing all of us, it occurs to me that perhaps we need a new metaphor…
Caring for the casualties of a broken health care system
I serve as director of spiritual care for a multi-hospital operating unit in a large urban health care system. A few months ago, as the nurse staffing shortage reached crisis level, our hospital leadership became concerned about the level of…
A story behind the story on the SBC and sexual abuse
It has been a humiliating week for Southern Baptists. Earlier this week, as a Clemons Fellow with Baptist News Global, I reported on the release of a memorandum authored by a sexual abuse survivor that details stunning and sweeping allegations…
Can we talk about Encanto?
Warning: Spoilers ahead. It took the boredom of an icy winter day to convince my tween and teen sons to watch the new Disney animated movie Encanto with me. I had heard the catchy songs topping the Billboard charts and…
The rich tapestry of ubuntu love
Love is in the air this month, a sweet occasion enjoyed around the world. Valentine’s Day began in Medieval times and now is a romantic event to exchange endearing words, flowers and cards with those who mean the most to…
Here’s looking at you, kid
“How are you?” “I’m sorry. What?” “I said, ‘How are you?’” “I’m 60.” “I asked, ‘How are you?’” “I know.” We didn’t know we were lip readers, until we started wearing masks. We thought our hearing was fine, until every…
The Maus saga: A case study of our present crises
In Maus I: A Survivor’s Tale: My Father Bleeds History, the Pulitzer Prize-winning graphic novel, writer and illustrator Art Spiegelman inquires of his Polish Jewish father: “When did you first hear about Auschwitz?” His father, a Holocaust survivor, replies: “Right…
Lament should be the order of the day
Lament should be the order of the day. Yesterday, we began Black History Month with bomb threats made against at least 13 historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs) throughout the country. Unfortunately, that these threats coincide with the beginning of…
Is a woman in that story?
When you crack open the pages of a bestseller or God’s Book, Is a woman in that story? Did she risk her life, reputation, well-being for the care and safety of others? When you crack open an orange or munch…
Stop threatening HBCUs
This week, as Black History Month began, numerous Historically Black Colleges and Universities were terrorized with bomb threats. This infuriates me. Black people are creations of God and loved by God. That should mean something to people of faith. This…
What my interview with Anthony Fauci taught me about cave living
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit with Anthony Fauci for one of his rare interviews with a religion journalist. When I pitched the story to one prominent evangelical news outlet that promotes itself as being a balanced news organization,…
We’re not just consumers, we’re a community, and we should spend like it
When we make a purchase, we’ve been conditioned to think about one thing: What’s the best deal for me? This is a selfish approach to purchasing habits. But it’s not necessarily our fault that we think that way. We’ve been…