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August 9, 2020

Wet Feet First

Many people didn’t know it was possible, but, against all odds, I’ve done it: I have crossed another threshold of pandemic fatigue. And, you know, based on several conversations that I have had, I’d guess the same is true for many of you.  Last week felt like a very long month. I’m going to do […]

July 26, 2020

The Difference of Little Things

The problems we face today are large and many. Item #1: In healthcare, the number of Covid cases has been surging in many places across the globe, including the United States. The surge of cases is so strong that some people are no longer talking about a first wave and a second wave, but are […]

May 10, 2020

Reflections of the Way Life Used to Be

I’ve spent the last few weeks running away from my reflection. I’m talking about my literal reflection and metaphorical reflection. Any haircuts or personal grooming habits have sort of gone out the window given that Zoom doesn’t produce the sharpest image of ourselves. My lowered levels of vanity is probably a good thing. But I’ve […]

March 22, 2020

We’re Blind

These days, we are blind. We really, really wish it were not so. But in truth, right now we are all blind people. Up until 2 or 3 weeks ago, most of us had established, predictable, and comfortable lives. We got out of bed, dressed, and went off to work or school or whatever else […]

August 19, 2018

Stages of Discipleship

We Mennonites are big on discipleship. It’s one of the main vocabulary words we use in our conversations with each other. As best as we can, we want to follow Jesus. Discipleship is one of our signature ideas, one of our special strengths. However, there’s one aspect of discipleship that we don’t talk about very […]

April 15, 2018

The Threat of Resurrection

Imagine that early last week, one of your best friends died. Let’s call her Tilly Jane. When Tilly Jane died, the usual things happened. The attending doctor signed her death certificate. The funeral home sent her body over to Elkhart for cremation. And yesterday afternoon, friends and family gathered from far and wide for Tilly […]

July 19, 2015

Practicing Patience

This text from Galatians comes as a hard word to us Mennonites in this time and place. For the last few years, we in the Mennonite Church USA have been biting and devouring each other—precisely what verse 15 admonishes us not to do. I refer, of course, to our fights over gay and lesbian issues. […]