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Centering Down in Patience
Tuesday morning I visited a centering prayer group in a congregation near my home. I had discovered it on their church website and wanted to practice with them. Centering prayer is a Christian form of...
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Living Grace
Baptized and raised in the Lutheran church, I have heard the word “grace” all my life. I learned that grace is God’s unconditional love. We are placed in a right and loving relationship with God not...
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Non-striving Grace
I strive to do well yet my striving often brings me grief and disappointment. When I train to run a marathon, I find myself striving to practice hard, only to become injured and unable to reach the...
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Judging First Impressions
First impressions get me into trouble. Does that happen to you? When I meet someone for the first time, I often make some snap decision regarding them based on their handshake, body size, facial...
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Healing at the Center
Centering Prayer is saving my mind while healing my soul. St. Paul Monastery in Minnesota I just returned from a five-day silent retreat at the St. Paul Monastery. I practiced Lectio Devina (a form of...
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Hooked on Backpacking
The destination we missed My dad was leading our family on a short one mile nature hike to Marymere Falls in Olympic National Park. The trail was near my childhood home of Port Angeles, Washington. I...
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PCT Day 1and 2: Seeing the Forest for the Trees
I confess: I am a biased hiker. The high alpine country above timberline is where I prefer to hike. The sweeping vista of snow-capped peaks and the dazzling array of alpine flowers strike the sweet...
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PCT Reflection – Playing Hide and Seek with Mt. Rainier
States have notable geographical landmarks. New York has Niagara Falls. Minnesota has 10,000 lakes. Arizona has the Grand Canyon. Florida has the Everglades. And Washington has Mt. Rainier. When...
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A New Place of Wonder on the PCT
Writing this blog, I realize what a geological snob I am. I have lived in Minnesota for over 40 years (including my first year of life) and yet it still seems too flat to me. I know rolling terrain...
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Let God Lead With Generosity
Transitions are tough. To move to a new town is challenging for us. To start a new job and to learn new work habits and culture adds to the difficulty. Yet thousands of people do it every year. My...
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Super Slow Mo Moments
I often want to rush through things, get to the good stuff. But such rushing often causes unnecessary pain. I have discovered that slowing down helps. Even in training to run a race. A marathon...
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Lap Sitting
Yesterday was my mother’s 89th birthday. She has been a resident in a memory care unit at the Woodbury Health Care Center for the past three years. We celebrated with cake, flowers and...
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Movie “Unbroken” Broke
Last night I saw an early screening of Unbroken The movie is based on Laura Hillenbrand’s 2010 book, Unbroken, A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience and Redemption, which is a biography of...
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The Lap of God
Nearly forty years ago my wife-to-be introduced me to an image of God that has shaped my life ever since. She wrote me a letter in which she described how God as king invited me into his great...
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Serenity Prayer: Intro
For the past two and half years I have participated in a clergy spirituality group. The six of us meet each Thursday morning for conversation and prayer. We started out with an adaptation of the The...
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The Serenity of the Serenity Prayer
The Serenity Prayer begins with three requests: the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can and the wisdom to know the difference. When I first prayed...
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The Courage to Change
I knew something needed to change as I hiked one summer along the Pacific Crest Trail. I had looked forward to the seven-day backpack for several months. I had entertained frequent day dreams in...
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The Wisdom to Know the Difference
Growing up I confused wisdom and knowledge. My grades were always at the top of the class. I loved the attention teachers and pastors gave me when I had the right answer. I knew everything and I...
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One Day at a Time
Just past the familiar opening phrases of serenity, courage and wisdom in Niebuhr’s Serenity Prayer comes this statement: Living one day at a time, enjoying one moment at a time, The prayer invites us...
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Resigning from Resurrection
Monday I resigned as Lead Pastor of Resurrection Lutheran Church. My last Sunday will be October 25, 2015. You can see my letter of resignation here. The path to the decision was a long and winding...
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