Russellings of the Spirit

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  • Holy Plugging

    In the summer of 2000, Joan and I set out to drive from Kansas City to Seattle. The point of our trip was to see family in the Pacific Northwest, but also to enjoy a few of America’s quintessential tourist… Continue reading

  • The Gift of Candles

    They say… you know, the all-knowing, all-seeing THEY… that timing is everything.  As is usually the case, they have indulged in a wee bit of literary hyperbole to make a point. The point that TIMING is a really, really important thing. Comedians, trapeze artists,… Continue reading

  • Captain Obvious

    I don’t usually do this, but what the heck! It’s a new year, so why not start it by doing something different? I will rudely ask: What did YOU get for Christmas? I ask you that question for the same reason… Continue reading

  • SAVED

    Passengers on the Titanic knew it. Jews living in the ghettos of Warsaw in 1939 knew it, too. No one knows it better today than the citizens of Ukraine. It certainly was a routine part of the consciousness of people… Continue reading

  • Excluded

    They were all there.  Standing close. Knowingly nudging each other. Laughing.  Sharing so much more than space and time. They were sharing themselves. It was the place I desperately wanted to be but couldn’t. I watched them and ached.  Left… Continue reading

  • Keeping Score

    Do you keep score?  This past weekend, I was surprised to pause and consider how much time I have devoted to this nefarious activity. I kept score as the U.S. Men’s national soccer team went down in defeat in the… Continue reading

  • Remembering

    “I’m sorry. I forgot.” If I had a shiny new quarter for every time I’ve uttered those words in my life, I would be a moderately well-off man.  And although I am getting up there in total birthdays, I can’t… Continue reading

  • Left-Handed

    I am left-handed. [I’m not really, but play along with me here. OK?] I was born this way.  Very early in life, my parents noticed my left-handedness and were ashamed. They believed it reflected poorly on their skills as parents. “Your… Continue reading

  • Why I Pray

    Back in the day, (to be perfectly honest, WAAAAY back in the day), the group Lovin’ Spoonful sang a song that asked the musical question, “Do you believe in magic?” If John Sebastian and his bandmates asked me that today, I would have to say, “NO.… Continue reading

  • Set Straight

    I don’t know if you heard or not, but Tuesday of this week was kind of a big day. Of course, I am referring to the fact that Tuesday was the day Patrick (the dog) and I made our visit… Continue reading