I recently gave a tour of Plymouth Church in Brooklyn to a high school youth choir from Georgia. I ask, “What do Southerners think the South is better at than New York?” They give the answers we would expect. “The…
The Tony Awards: Who does God want to win?
Enough with the debates over who will win and who should win at Sunday night’s Tony Awards. People of faith ask, “Who does God want to win?” Yes, some might argue God has more important things to care about than…
Tryin’ to get the feelin’ again
I am not embarrassed to admit that Carol and I recently joined thousands of other Fanilows at Radio City Music Hall. The line moved slowly. If there had been an AARP discount, 90% of us could have used it. I…
Carol and Brett save democracy
On Saturday, I put on my John Lewis “Good Trouble” sweatshirt and joined the crowd causing good trouble. Carol and I marched in New York’s “Hands Off!” demonstration with millions around the world protesting Donald Trump’s policies. The call was…
Should we skip Lent this year?
I would like to skip Lent this year, because life already feels tragic enough. Do we really need extra sackcloth and ashes right now? We usually give up something for Lent, and so much already has been taken away. Forty…
God’s art gallery
Carol and I went to the Museum of Modern Art last Friday night, when it stays open until 8:30. When we decided to go, we did not know Friday nights are free for New York residents. The line was longer…
Hearing voices
At the recent Golden Globes, Demi Moore received the award for Best Actress in a Musical or Comedy for her role in a gruesome, gory horror film. The Substance — which I have not seen — does not sound like…
The light in my mother’s eyes
My mother had light in her eyes. She was a delightful combination of my grandparents. My grandmother had a strong sense of right and wrong, a strong sense that her way was right and yours was wrong. So much was…
Christians who don’t think much of Jesus
A month ago, Carol and I went to the Paley Center for Media in Manhattan for a panel discussion on “The Media’s Role in Combating Antisemitism: Next Generation Digital Storytellers.” The speakers were fascinating. Tova Friedman is a Holocaust survivor…
I have come to a fork in the road and I must take it
I am embarrassed. I don’t have an excuse. My friends don’t understand what’s wrong with me. I moved from Atlanta to Brooklyn eight years ago. I’m a baseball fan who, inexplicably, hasn’t chosen between the Mets and Yankees. This is…
Time management, soul management
I hope reading this column is a good use of your time, and I hope writing this column was a good use of my time, because you and I waste a lot of time. We turn on the TV out…
Flight delays and other thought-provoking interruptions
Whenever we travel, one person usually does the worrying about staying on schedule. This helpful, often misunderstood person is a compulsive clock-watcher. This has been a rough summer for people who still wear watches and for Delta, which canceled more…