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”
Category Archives: Spirituality
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”
Finding God on the other side of Halloween
Let us stipulate that God seems very far from the commercial extravaganza that now surrounds Halloween. I am much more likely to find God on the other side of Halloween, on November 1st, when we observe All Saints’ Day. All Saints’ Day is a day to remember all of the saints who have passed throughContinue reading “Finding God on the other side of Halloween”
Binge Watching for God (Part Two)
Last week, I explored the role that God plays in the lives of four of the five 30-something Orthodox Jewish Jerusalemites in the Israeli television series Srugim. This week, we learn what the angel that God sends to Amir has to say.
Binge Watching for God (Part One)
One of my vices is binge watching foreign television series on Netflix or Amazon. I’m not proud of this. Most of the time it’s cotton candy for the mind. But sometimes, when you least expect it, you find God.
My 25,000 year-old friend
Earlier this year I visited the Peche Merle caves, known for their prehistoric drawings, in the south west of France. Little is known about the purpose of the Peche Merle cave paintings. There is some speculation that they were used in sacred rituals. So, as I made my way down into the caves and alongContinue reading “My 25,000 year-old friend”
Advice for Clergy (and the rest of us)
Did you know that October has been designated “Clergy Appreciation Month” by the good people at Hallmark Cards? It was news to me. So, in honor of all the clergy who are a part of our lives, I offer some insights and advice from Sei Shonagon, an 11th century Japanese noblewoman living in the imperialContinue reading “Advice for Clergy (and the rest of us)”
Rob's Reflections 