Russellings of the Spirit

July 2021

  • Silent Encouragement

    One ritual that must be observed as part of any visit to the town of Pacific City, Oregon is The Climb. That is, The Climb to the top of the giant sand dune at Cape Kiwanda (pictured here). I have done it several times… Continue reading

  • Particles of Wonder

    Last weekend Joan and I went to the mountains. It was glorious. It was majestic. It was beautiful. It was awe-inspiring. It was a breath-taking reminder of the splendor of God’s creation. It drove me to my knees in a… Continue reading

  • It’s a Blunder-ful Life

    The website Dictionary.com defines a blunder as, “… a gross, stupid, or careless mistake.” Blunders are errors that reside multiple levels above missteps like, say, putting the pasta away on the baking shelf, or calling John Jim, or taking a sip… Continue reading

  • A Way in the Wilderness…

    Fifty-two years ago today, an epic adventure took place. Footprints were placed on a new, unfamiliar landscape.  Eyes were opened. Discoveries were made… discoveries that were both earth-shaking and life-altering. Old barriers were broken down and we witnessed the dawn… Continue reading

  • Whatever happened to whistling?

    As I walked into the restroom at the Denver Convention Center the other day, I was whistling.  To my best recollection, the tune was Phil Collins’ I Can’t Dance… the most recent song playing on my car’s radio when I parked… Continue reading

  • Poured Out

    I took Communion yesterday. No biggie. Just a regular, “every Sunday” kind of thing now that Joan and I worship with a Lutheran congregation.  In my United Methodist experience, Holy Communion was usually only a once-a-month event. But if you… Continue reading

  • What’s At the Heart

    I love Hud. True confession time: at first, I did NOT love Hud. At all. Hud (or Uncle Hud) is the name Kansas City Royals fans have given to Rex Hudler – the  guy who does play-by-play of Royals games on… Continue reading

  • The Day After

    I went to the football game on that Friday night in October. Going to the game was an important ritual in the town where I grew up. In fact, in the 1960s in the midwestern U.S., it was an act… Continue reading