Over the last year, I have been training to walk the Camino. At my age, balance and muscle resilience are key to a successful walk. That, and endurance. I’m now in week eleven of twelve for training. By the end of this week, I need to be able to hike five hours in hilly terrainContinue reading “Training to Walk the Camino”
Tag Archives: Episcopal Relief & Development
The Scallop Shell
Many pilgrims on the Camino tie a scallop shell to their backpacks or on the laces of their boots. The scallop shell is also used to mark the route one is meant to walk on the way to Santiago de Compostela. So, what’s the deal with that? The association of St. James with scallops takes usContinue reading “The Scallop Shell”
Who was St. James?
As I prepare for my Camino, it occurs to me that I should learn a little about St. James the Great whose relics are believed to buried at the Cathedral of Santiago de Compostela. 500 miles is a long way to walk without knowing anything about the person who has inspired millions to make a pilgrimage toContinue reading “Who was St. James?”
Walking the Camino for Lasting Change
The board of Episcopal Relief & Development has generously granted me a sabbatical this fall. As I was thinking about what I wanted to use the time for, I decided that I had a couple of goals for my sabbatical.
The Three Beating Hearts of Maori Leadership
Since taking up my role as president of Episcopal Relief & Development over 13 years ago, many people have kindly sent me articles and books about leadership. How is it recognized? How is it developed? What does it look like in a faith context? How can one be a non-anxious leader? You get the picture.Continue reading “The Three Beating Hearts of Maori Leadership”
Fulfilling God’s Dreams
One of the great and humbling honors of serving Episcopal Relief & Development is the opportunity I have to visit our work around the world. In April, I led a pilgrimage of friends and supporters to Zambia to learn about our work with children. For the last several years we have worked withContinue reading “Fulfilling God’s Dreams”
“The silence has been broken.”
Today I find myself in Liberia where I am learning about Episcopal Relief & Development’s work to mobilize faith leaders in the effort to end violence against women and children. It’s innovative and impressive work (and I’m not just saying that because I’m the president). Often, approaches to working with faith leaders “instrumentalize” them. ThatContinue reading ““The silence has been broken.””
Fog Over the Promised Land
Last Thursday afternoon, just before heading home to New York, I stood on Mount Nebo in Jordan and looked west to the Promised Land. Mount Nebo is where Moses stood at the end of his life, having led the Israelites in the desert for forty years, and died. Today there is a modern Catholic churchContinue reading “Fog Over the Promised Land”
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”
The Water and Sanitation Mystery (Part Two)
In last week’s installment of “The Water and Sanitation Mystery” my colleague discovered that, to his alarm, the project had not gone as planned. Household latrines had not been built and the one public latrine that had been built was not in use. Most concerning, however, the community was not capturing and protecting its clean waterContinue reading “The Water and Sanitation Mystery (Part Two)”
Rob's Reflections 