News & Articles
A Grandparent’s View Of History
Americans of my generation were born in the early years of the Cold War, and, as the word “cold” suggests, our time in history seemed frozen. Yes, maps of the world had to be altered periodically to accommodate revolutions and other political upheavals in Africa, the Middle East, Asia, and Latin America, but mostly the…
Lets Cool It
I suspect that most people would say that their favorite season of the year is summer. Summer is associated with vacations, good times outdoors, and beloved sports like baseball, softball, tennis, and golf. This is the season when people are usually more active and, consequently, usually experience better health. But this summer in particular has…
Turning Our World Upside Down
When I taught religious studies for over four decades, I became quite used to people trivializing religion or dismissing it as something weak and anemic. The whole point of being religious, some people would share with me, is to be kind. No wonder many people think that religious training might be good for children but…
Wonder is Eternal
There is a lot about aging that I’m fine with. Getting to know and love my grandchildren is beyond anything that I expected, and there’s something to be said about not having to set an alarm for Monday mornings. But I confess that I find it hard to say goodbye when friends pass away. …
What A Bird Taught Me
Just as the sky was brightening one morning last week, I was awakened by a songbird outside the window. The song was captivating, and I continued to listen, expecting to hear another bird respond. But there was no response, and the songbird continued to give a solo performance. My first thought was that if I…
Come Let Us Reason Together
“Come, let us reason together,” says the Lord. Although this is an ancient passage, from theeighth-century BCE Hebrew prophet Isaiah, the simple phrase seems particularly apropos this week inAmerica’s political life as we watch Donald Trump being arraigned again. But before we focus on Trump, let’s think a bit more about the wisdom found in…