A party had been thrown for us. Yellow confetti covered the branches. Red streamers decorated a shrub. Pearls had been placed delicately on the willows. Copper tissue paper encircled a maple trunk. Executive Director Ned Friedman knew we were visiting the Arnold Arboretum and had thrown us a welcome party! At least, that is whatContinue reading “February Flowers”
Author Archives: joyofthejourney
Rock the Boat
Luke 5:1-11 [watch the sermon video here] Ugh. Another useless night. Why do I even bother? Simon Peter thinks.He’s come up empty handed after a night of fishing.Night after night he has been fishing.Trying new parts of the water.Asking other fishers for the best method of catching fish.Mending the nets.Surely, he must be one throw away fromContinue reading “Rock the Boat”
Carnivorous Plants: Trumpet Pitcher
I am excited to share with you one of my new loves: carnivorous plants! Carnivorous plants rivet me. They eat insects, yes, but these plants are considered carnivorous rather than insectivorous because they have also been known to eat a stray tree frog or two! In the book Carnivorous Plants, Adrian Slack hypothesizes that carnivorousContinue reading “Carnivorous Plants: Trumpet Pitcher”
On the Move
Luke 4:21-30 Transfixed, the people marvel at the eloquence streaming from Jesus’ lips. With his words, Jesus dreams of those in prison going free. In this reverie, those who are poor receive good news! In fact, a year of favor comes to everyone! This dream, Jesus exclaims excitedly, has come true today! The year ofContinue reading “On the Move”
Six Questions for the New Year
What has been the biggest change in your life in 2021? The biggest change in my life in 2021 was receiving my vaccine. This enabled me to hug my family and friends and be indoors with them for the first time since the pandemic began. What has been your biggest challenge in the last year?Continue reading “Six Questions for the New Year”
A Willingness to Weep
John 2:1-12; watch video here On a cold winter day,there’s a woman on the New York subwayin a thin sweater, clearly freezing and hungry.She’s asking for money; a few people hand her a dollar quicklywithout eye contact. Everyone’s trying to get the whole thing over with.She’s carrying bags of stuff, bumping into peoplewho are grumbling andContinue reading “A Willingness to Weep”
Mistakes Are a Gift / Times I Have Failed Horribly
Dear lovely ones, Sometimes, we desperately want to do something well and we fail horribly. Has that ever happened to you? I began thinking of my own stories of failure as I listened to the “We Can Do Hard Things” podcast on my morning walk. In the episode “Unexpected Joy: How do we redefine success so we canContinue reading “Mistakes Are a Gift / Times I Have Failed Horribly”
At the Threshold
Luke 1:39-55 [watch sermon here] It’s only been a few dayssince Mary heard the newsthat that would change her life forever. Mary had just learned that she would be part of the processof birthing a revolution for her people. Unable to stay still, Mary set outand ran with haste to the hill country. There’s an intensityContinue reading “At the Threshold”
I Want to Change My Life
I want to change my life, I think this December. Each Sunday this month, as I prepare to preach, the Christian lectionary* has given me a scripture reading about change. The message that it drives home is this: Prepare for Christmas by changing your life. Yet, I am still stuck on this question:How do weContinue reading “I Want to Change My Life”
What Then Should We Do?
Luke 3:7-20 The crowds empty out onto the desert.They have heard about John.His words can cut like a knifethrough the shroud of societal lies.His words can make your heart beat again,even after the coldness of apathy has stilled it. The people ache to see John.The people are afraid to see John. What would he sayContinue reading “What Then Should We Do?”
Joy of the Journey 