It is so very odd that we have the terms “widow” and “widower” and we have “orphan,” but we have no term for those who have lost their children. Other than words like the bereft, those who mourn and weep, the wounded….
An interesting long piece from the CHE: The New Theist – The Chronicle Review – The Chronicle of Higher Education. I like what the opening reveals about Richard Dawkins and his view of the role of the press. When, during a conversation in a swank hotel lobby in Manhattan, I mentioned […]
January 14, 2014 Charles Miller, in the comments, shared this quote from Emil Brunner’s The Eternal Hope (available in its entirety as a PDF here). I am not familiar with his work (a lacking in my education, clearly) but have ordered this volume and look forward to reading it. Brunner […]
From last Sunday. As with most sermons, I wrote sparingly and then in the preaching the sermon expands, but I think this captures my primary thoughts. Proper 5, Year C, RCL 1 Kings 17:17-24 Luke 7:11-17 The Widows’ Sons – Why Not Mine? When I came back to services one […]
I have known others dealing with tragedy who cope by focusing on their work, putting all their concentration into the various tasks at hand. That isn’t me. In many ways I wish it were, but as we move out of the semester and into the “research months” (as I call […]
Convallaria majalis. Wikipedia tells me that it “is also known as Our Lady’s tears or Mary’s tears from Christian legends that it sprang from the weeping of the Virgin Mary during the crucifixion of Jesus.” I did not know that. I knew, of course, that our English translations of Song […]
I have two recent posts on my PhotoBlog. The first was about taking pictures where you are and the second…well, is the same, except this past week where I was was Utrecht, Netherlands.
Last night Chelsea beat Benfico 2-1 in the UEFA Europa League Final. I watched it from a hotel room in Utrecht and the game was played just a short train ride away in Amsterdam Arena, where just 10 months ago Mack and I watched Ajax beat the Celtics 4-0. Needless […]
I don’t usually post the speech I give at the Medals Ceremony, but this time the message was a bit different. Good afternoon scholars, Parents, and friends, trustees, President Erickson and Provost Pangborn. Congratulations to you all! Each one of you has played a significant role in getting to this […]
Today I was talking with a colleague about another tragic death of a young person. The runner collapsed and died during the Pittsburgh Marathon apparently with a “coronary artery abnormality.” No one was to blame for his death. He was born with this condition, although he was unaware of it. […]