Dear family and friends, As I depart Spain this morning and return to the hustle and bustle of pre-holiday preparations, I want to take a moment to express my profound gratitude to all of you for joining me on my Camino to Santiago de Compostela. I am especially grateful to the board of Episcopal ReliefContinue reading “Gratitude”
Category Archives: Meditations
One is embarking on a strange journey: Reflections after 500 miles (Part Two)
Now that I have completed my Camino and have started to look back on my experience for a few days, I have come to realize that the most important and, in Idle’s words, “strange” part of my journey is just beginning: the journey of reflection. One could fill a small library with books of people’sContinue reading “One is embarking on a strange journey: Reflections after 500 miles (Part Two)”
In Pursuit of the Three Magi
Greetings from St. Jean Pied de Port in France. Tomorrow morning, I set out walking the Camino de Santiago. Over the last several months, I’ve had occasion to think about what it is to be a pilgrim. The first pilgrims in the Christian tradition were probably the three Wisemen, or Magi, who traveled to visitContinue reading “In Pursuit of the Three Magi”
Walking and Pilgrimage
Not far from where we stayed in Crete this summer, approximately 50 footprints were found in soft calcite clay sediment. The rock was dated by examining microfossils in surrounding rocks to 6.05 million years ago, at the start of the Messinian Age. The scattered footprints are believed to have been made by a close relativeContinue reading “Walking and Pilgrimage”
Seven Last Words
My first memories of the Passion of Christ come not from church, but from listening to the rock opera, Jesus Christ Superstar.
What can penguins teach us?
Prior to my recent trip to Antarctica, I confess that I had not given penguins much consideration. Not beautiful. Smell bad. Can’t fly. Really, what was the point of a penguin? Now, however, I have a new appreciation for the penguin. As our ship lay at anchor off Deception Island in the Antarctic Ocean, weContinue reading “What can penguins teach us?”
Light in a Very Dark Place
We are now approaching the darkest days of the year. Our Advent wreaths and Hanukkah menorahs have brought light into our lives. It is an opportune time to reflect on how one can bring light to dark places. Several months ago friends from out of town invited me to a benefit organized to support Musicambia.Continue reading “Light in a Very Dark Place”
The beating heart of a home
When my in-laws were downsizing out of their home in Fredericton, New Brunswick in Canada and moving to an apartment, they very generously gave us a grandfather clock that stood in their front hall. The clock was made in Halifax in Yorkshire, England, probably in the late 18th century and stands well over 9 feetContinue reading “The beating heart of a home”
Interstellar Space
Living as I do in an urban environment, it is not usually possible to see many, if any, stars on a regular basis. Fortunately, my work takes me off the beaten path to places where there is little ambient light to obscure the night sky. Most recently, I found myself in the desert ofContinue reading “Interstellar Space”
How Democracies Die
How Democracies Die By Steven Levitsky and Daniel Ziblatt Let me confess up front: I have not yet read this book. I’m screwing up my courage to do so. However, I’ve heard just enough about it to be extremely concerned and intrigued. The authors argue that in recent times authoritarian leaders have actually come toContinue reading “How Democracies Die”
Rob's Reflections 