Here’s a poem I wrote based on the beginning of this week’s Narrative Lectionary reading. (It’s in the Lenten Devotional.) Bad at Math This guy’s a little crazy, don’t you think?This shepherd who told the whole town:“I found my lost sheep”Which is to say,“I lost a sheep”And to say,“I left ninety-nine of my sheep to…
I’m memorizing Luke 2:1-16 for our Christmas Eve service. Maybe that sounds impressive, but the truth is I know most of it already: “In those days, a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. . . .” It’s a familiar story. Comfortable language. A rhythm and a cadence that’s…
Breathe. Just breathe in the sharp ice air that stings the hollows of my nose and mingles with the blood that flows to each hair follicle, through each artery, each vein, fueling my stops and starts toward home, warming my wind-whipped skin, sinking deep into the marrow of each bone. Breathe. Just breathe out the…
Today is your birthday– or was. I don’t know what it is now that you are dead–just a shadow to remind us that last year we gave you tickets to a KU game–tickets for you and Matt to celebrate the day; a festive end to a pretty good year. We didn’t know how near to…
“Six days before Passover.” Probably a couple of months–though only one chapter–after Lazarus was dead, and then not dead. Only seven days–and seven chapters–before the crucifixion. “Six days before Passover.” Wedged between resurrection and death. “Jesus came to Bethany.” Just north of Bethlehem and that legendary manger. Just east of Jerusalem and that infamous cross.…
As some of you know from Facebook, as some of you may have guessed through my recent silence, my dad passed away last week. On Thursday, March 7. In a hospice room at St. Francis hospital in Wichita. With the sun shining and the Hallelujah Chorus playing on my brother’s ipad. Facing his bride of…
I’ve been having lots of fun over at Tony Jone’s blog, Theoblogy, today. He has some theologian trading cards to give away and is asking folks to contribute limericks if they want a chance to win! I have become a bit addicted to writing these little lilting gems, and ended up with four of them.…
Reading the Bible and writing poetry in a quiet house. Life is good today. Thank you for your words for my sestina. The poem I wrote is below. If you’ve written one, I’d love to see it! You can send it to me via the “Contact” page–and let me know if I am allowed to…
Between Facebook and the blog, we have our six end words for the post-Easter sestina! *flesh, stone, fear (or peace), fish, appearance, and leave* If you write one, I’d love to read it! I’ll post mine soon. (Again, guidelines for a sestina are here.)
I love to play with words–their sounds, their flexibility, their clarity and their ability to obscure. I suppose this playfulness can get irritating in a preacher. So I’m going to channel some of that energy into poetry. Yesterday I re-read and slightly revised a sestina that I wrote during our Lenten Creative Arts Retreat. Sestinas…
Spacious Faith 