Rob Radtke

Friendship

For reasons I can’t entirely explain, I recently downloaded audiobook versions of The Goldfinch by Donna Tartt and A Little Life: A Novel by Hanya Yanagihara. I had read both of these books within the last three years, so their plots and characters were still very much on my mind. Perhaps that is why IContinue reading “Friendship”

What kind of person does God want me to become in 2018?

Christmas decorations tend to linger around our house until Ash Wednesday. I’m always reluctant to sweep them away too quickly after December 25th. After all, there are twelve days of Christmas—it’s a season not a day. Certainly any decorations associated with the Three Kings have their place in our home through Epiphany. Those whoContinue reading “What kind of person does God want me to become in 2018?”

Fanfare for the Common Man

For the last several years my wife and I have marked the passing of one year into the next with a quiet dinner, sometimes with friends, sometimes just the two of us, followed by an 11 p.m. organ concert at St. Bartholomew’s Episcopal Church here in New York City. The program for the concert variesContinue reading “Fanfare for the Common Man”

God Laughs

I’m a planner. Some of that is by necessity. But, I confess, a good bit of it is by nature. And what does God do when you make plans? God laughs.

Twenty characteristics that make a genius

In keeping with my desire to observe Advent by seeking out beauty (see my November 28th post) and my fascination with Salvator Mundi (see my November 14th post), I just finished reading Walter Isaacson’s masterful and insightful biography of Leonardo Da Vinci. Isaacson concludes his book by identifying twenty characteristics that make a genius.Continue reading “Twenty characteristics that make a genius”

Servants of God: St. Nicholas & Bishop Paul Jones

On Wednesday, December 6th, Episcopal Relief & Development, the organization I have the privilege of leading, marks the anniversary of its founding. It also happens to be St. Nicholas Day. That is a happy coincidence and provides an opportunity to reflect on the values that shaped St. Nicholas’ life and inform the work of EpiscopalContinue reading “Servants of God: St. Nicholas & Bishop Paul Jones”

Five Advent Lessons

This Sunday, the First Sunday in Advent, will mark a new liturgical year. We tend to gloss over that in our culture, focused as we are on the big event: Christmas Day. However, Advent is one of the places where one can feel God at work in the world. Here are five ways to makeContinue reading “Five Advent Lessons”

Giving Thanks

Every year it feels as if I come screeching into Thanksgiving. This year that feeling is particularly acute.

Salvator Mundi

On Wednesday morning I met Christ on my way to work. If you want to catch him, he is currently at Christie’s auction house in New York City until Wednesday, November 15th at noon. After that no one knows where he will go. Stop by if you have a chance.

Poppy Day

Late last Friday night, I landed at London’s Heathrow Airport and made my way to the Central Bus Terminal to catch a bus to Oxford. I was headed there to attend a weekend conference on Healthcare Inequality (perhaps the subject of another post someday). As I was standing at the bus ticket counter, IContinue reading “Poppy Day”