Anyone with a taste for warm fuzzies should be able to get their fill between this week and next. On Wednesday, the community celebrated World Day of Kindness — a day packed with do-gooding all over town. Sunday evening, the “Sesame Street” 50th anniversary will air on PBS, celebrating a half century of helping children … Continue reading ‘Sesame Street,’ Fred Rogers, and regaining the moral courage of our youth
Be great in the little things. Be great in Love
“Just as ripples spread out when a single pebble is dropped into water, the actions of individuals can have far-reaching effects.” Anyone who ever stood at the water’s edge as a child, throwing rocks with abandon, knows the imagery in that quote, from the Dalai Lama. The problem is, just as the pebble is ignorant … Continue reading Be great in the little things. Be great in Love
Blessed are you, the Church Militant
This sermon originally was delivered on Nov. 3, 2019 in observance of the Feast of All Saints, at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla. Who is a saint? As we gather here in a sanctuary named for St. Matthew, that may seem an odd question. Certainly, all the canonized saints are included in this definition … Continue reading Blessed are you, the Church Militant
Tragedy reveals our true nature — but let’s not wait for tragedy
You don’t have to look far in the news to see tragedy. As humans, we are fascinated with tragedy. Nothing piques the collective interest more than someone else’s suffering. We certainly should learn from tragedy and suffering. But, perhaps our focus should be shifted — or maybe just broadened — to shine light on … Continue reading Tragedy reveals our true nature — but let’s not wait for tragedy
The true meaning of the day after Halloween
For many, today is a day to sort through the sacks of candy the kiddos brought home, perhaps liberate a few of the choicest morsels for Mom and Dad, and set the rest aside to be thrown out sometime around Christmas. But, other than the obvious excuse to eat way too much candy, why do … Continue reading The true meaning of the day after Halloween
To be great, we need to put our money on the future
"I'd put my money on the sun and solar energy. What a source of power! I hope we don't have to wait until oil and coal run out before we tackle that." When Thomas Edison said those words to his friends Henry Ford and Harvey Firestone, shortly before his death in 1931, he was … Continue reading To be great, we need to put our money on the future
‘Who am I?’
Note: This originally was delivered at Noon Mass at St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla., on Wednesday, 23 October 2019. Unraveling our identity in Christ, with St. James I want to thank Fr. John for giving me the opportunity to preach on the Feast of St. James, since he is the source of my given … Continue reading ‘Who am I?’
The extraordinary beauty of our ordinary stories
One of the most satisfying aspects of my work is retelling people’s extraordinary stories. Fortunately, I had the opportunity to hear and share a little bit of Ernest Leierer’s story. He participated in the D-Day invasion, which just happened to be his birthday, and had a wealth of stories from the war. He came to … Continue reading The extraordinary beauty of our ordinary stories
Faith — Our passionate love affair with God
This sermon was delivered during Evening Prayer at Enid Community Corrections Center, on the Feast of St. Teresa of Avila, Oct. 15, 2019, as part of the prison ministry of St. Matthew's Episcopal Church, Enid, Okla. Faith, I think, is best described as a passionate love affair between the soul and its Creator — between … Continue reading Faith — Our passionate love affair with God
Wonder or sadness over God’s creation: It’s our choice
It’s not often I experience simultaneously awestruck joy and numbing sadness. I experienced that Monday when I visited for the first time the Myriad Botanical Gardens in Oklahoma City. The Myriad’s Crystal Bridge Tropical Conservatory is a true wonder. This 13,000 square-foot conservatory showcases 750 plant varieties from across the globe, cascading waterfalls, a sky … Continue reading Wonder or sadness over God’s creation: It’s our choice
