I got goaded into riding a drop tower while visiting an amusement park in Orlando. “Oh, come on. … It will be fun!” they said. The higher the gondola went up in the air, the more angst I experienced. One…
What shall we bring the grieving, poor as we are?
My heart is heavy today for those who grieve at Christmas. Not just those who are grieving the loss of loved ones and planning funerals instead of parties — I’ve officiated five such services in the past two weeks, and…
‘Blue Christmas’ services aim to bring comfort, hope
It’s hard for to say the words “Blue Christmas” without hearing the late Elvis Presley’s rich baritone voice. Elvis isn’t credited with starting the liturgical trend with his 1957 hit song, but “Blue Christmas” services have increased significantly among United…
Luke Russert looks for his father and finds himself
For years, the name Tim Russert was synonymous with thoughtful political commentary. When the Meet the Press anchor died suddenly of a heart attack in June 2008 — just before Father’s Day — viewers on both sides of the political…
Perhaps your grief will not ‘ruin’ Christmas
We often perceive the holidays as a time of togetherness and joy, where we reunite with families and enjoy the presence of each other. However, what we do not talk about is the grief that often coincides with the Christmas…
Lessons in grieving the loss of a child: From ‘maybe so‘ to ‘it is so’
It was my last conversation with, let’s say, Tim, a close friend for six decades. Our stockpile of trust built a sturdy container strong enough to hold honest end-of-life conversations. Tim is dying and he knows it. Each telephone conversation…
The night I administered infant baptism as an act of compassion
Note: This article includes a description of a stillborn birth. It seemed to be a normal evening. I was at home watching TV when I received an urgent call from one of the members of my congregation who needed my…
A Bubba-Doo’s regular loses a loved one
I stopped outside the door at my favorite hangout, Bubba-Doo’s, to hold it open for an acquaintance. I knew Landrum from his occasional visits there to the country store. He showed up some afternoons and very rarely said much. In…
COVID, Holy Week and God’s consolations
I lost a friend I highly respected to COVID. Our church family has prayed through the illnesses of members, friends and family, observed deaths and then, of course, there were the illnesses and losses due to complications of COVID never…