It’s no accident that National Bible Week coincides with Thanksgiving. Its roots are in the day the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, when radio reports of the attack were alternated with Scripture readings to encourage the nation. Later, FDR proclaimed the week of Thanksgiving to be National Bible Week for all America, in gratitude to the Lord. […]
Search Results for: thanksgiving
5 THANKSGIVING PSALMS TO PRAY THIS WEEK
If the stores in our area are anything to go by, Thanksgiving is going the way of the pilgrims. We’re too busy, it seems, to linger in gratitude when there’s so much out there to get. X-mas trees (I can’t call them “Christmas”) appeared the afternoon of Halloween, and Thanksgiving’s treated as a signpost for […]
Holidays and Holy Days
Holidays and Holy Days Here you will find musings related to Advent and Lent, Christmas and Easter along with reflections prompted by holidays like Thanksgiving, Mother’s Day, and the onset of summer. It’s also a place for thoughts on Holy Days and related topics like the communion of Saints and the Sacraments. Posts are pictured […]
Scripture Reflection
Scripture Reflection Here I share the fruits of my personal reflection on the Word of God, whether I’m reading along with the lectionary readings for that week or exploring a particular book of the Bible. Enjoy the posts that appear below; you’ll find them with the most recent first. If you’re looking for something in […]
WHAT TO DO WHEN THERE’S NO EUCHARIST: Thirsting for Jesus during COVID-19
I don’t know about you, but I’m thirsty for Jesus. I’m hungry for the Eucharist. I want him. Physically, tangibly. Less than 10 days into coronavirus-prompted deprivation, I have a longing I’ve never experienced before. It’s a longing I never thought I’d have, given 30 years of experiencing his presence spiritually as a Protestant, ignorant […]
MOVIE NIGHT: A Lesson in Prayer from “Little Big Man”
Near the end of Little Big Man, the 1970 film with Dustin Hoffman, Faye Dunaway, and Chief Dan George, the aged medicine man—who has survived the massacre at Wounded Knee and seen victory at the Battle of Little Big Horn—prepares to die. On a high, lonely mountain he sings and dances before the god he […]
FIND PEACE THIS ADVENT
The house up the street from us was fully lit for Christmas the day after Thanksgiving, a decorated tree twinkling in the front window. It’s lovely! But I admit my blood pressure goes up when I see it. My to-do list for December is so long, I won’t be getting to decorations for a couple […]
THANKS (FOR NOTHING?): LEARN THE POWER OF PRAISE
It was the week before Thanksgiving and we were anything but thankful. Everything that could go wrong had, it seemed. We were broke, deep in debt, stuck in a bad job, a thousand miles from home and expecting our second child at any time. Mother came out to help and together we cooked a turkey […]
PRACTICING GRATITUDE: Grace Before Meals
Two-year-old Evie watched as the ladies at the next table started in on their salads, then kicked her legs to get their attention. “Aren’t you going to pray first?” she asked. After all, they had smiled and voiced their approval as she carefully touched her finger to her forehead, heart, and shoulders before we thanked […]
COME PRAISE AGAINST THE DARK!
The tune is 60’s-folk and more old-school than retro-cool. But it is embedded in my memory and comes to my rescue on days when I wake up under a load of problems and can’t see my way out. Personal problems are bad enough. But now it seems our government is being pulled apart and polarization […]
