Russellings of the Spirit

peace

  • Time for a jolt?

    As a child of the 60s, I’d like to think I know a thing or two about protests.  Granted, most of my participation in the anti-war or civil rights protests of that era consisted of watching them on TV from… Continue reading

  • Final Exam

    Urgent: [ˈərjənt] Adjective. calling for immediate attention: PRESSING  Today I am thinking back to that time when urgency seemed to rule my life. It was a time when everything had to be done RIGHT NOW! Nothing could wait. It was a… Continue reading

  • CHANGE

    What moves the world? What kind of force does it take To cause even the tiniest shudder? And alter – even microscopically – the unflinching orbit Of lives? Of fates? Of destinies? Of kingdoms? Of stars? Is it great beauty?… Continue reading

  • Caution? or Fear?

    “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” (2 Timothy 1:7, NLT) Last night I was in our kitchen making a salad. No biggie. After chopping the tomatoes, I realized I still needed a few… Continue reading

  • The Waiting Game

    “Let’s put that off for a while,” said the doctor, regarding my possible need for shoulder surgery. “Let’s wait a bit,” said the out-of-state family member about an upcoming visit. “Nope. Not happening anytime soon,” said the travel company about… Continue reading

  • Safe at home?

    Let me ask you: how safe do you feel right now? I will answer first by confessing that most of the time, I feel pretty safe. My safety, I am well aware, derives largely from the privilege I enjoy as… Continue reading

  • Something from Nothing, Part 2

    (In yesterday’s installment, I recounted one of my most abysmal performances as a pastoral counselor. Troy, a congregant, had come to see me with an incredible mountain of problems including job loss, cancer, his wife’s infidelity, and parenting challenges, all… Continue reading

  • The Rock’s Promise

    This morning as Patrick the dog and I set out on our morning walk, there was a strange stillness in the air. It was chilly enough for me to see my breath. We turned left out of our cul-de-sac and… Continue reading

  • Loveland

    Two days ago I went into my nearby U.S. Post Office here in Fort Collins, Colorado. The purpose of my trip – I am eager to tell you – was to mail a Super Bowl LIV Champions KANSAS CITY CHIEFS… Continue reading

  • Love Out Loud

    A year or so ago, I got fed up. Squared. First I was fed up with the escalating rancor and divisiveness in nearly every segment of American society. Yes, ill will seems to center primarily in the political realm, but… Continue reading