Degrees of Sin
We tend, in our human minds, to think of levels or degrees of sin. There’s the little white lie that “doesn’t hurt anybody,” and there’s the really evil-wicked-mean-bad-and-nasty stuff like murder and rape. So we see Hitler as this depraved man responsible for the murder of six million Jews, and think “He’s a terrible sinner!” But [...]
Human Amphibians and the Law of Undulation
I had actually intended to post about just the Law of Undulation today, as I have been listening to C.S. Lewis’s The Screwtape Letters over the last few days, and his concepts of the Law of Undulation and of humankind as a hybrid, amphibian creature subject to that law have been occupying my thoughts greatly. But [...]
Mundane Prayers Matter to God
Back in May, I wrote in my Facebook Notes about the prayer that never fails me. I call it the “Finding Prayer.” When I have lost something and need to find it, I ask my Heavenly Father to help me. He always does. But it’s not just the “Finding Prayer” that God answers. He answers [...]
Your Road Is Not My Road
Penelope Trunk has an interesting Yom Kippur post on her blog, and the comments are equally challenging. A lot of people out there are seeking, and an equally large number of people have been hurt by organized religion. After reading some of the comments, I felt compelled to post a comment myself. I am copying and expanding [...]
Don’t Do. Just Ask.
It’s funny. I’m not Jewish (though I thought about converting once), but this time of year always makes me a little more cognizant of spiritual matters. Maybe it’s the fact that, for the last seven years, I have worked closely with Jewish people, and maybe their contemplative behaviour during the High Holy Days just rubs [...]
The Parable of the Talents: What Does It Mean?
This story from Matthew’s gospel has always bothered me. A king heads off on a journey, leaving his three servants in charge of his wealth. One guy gets five portions, the second gets two portions, and the third gets only one portion. The text says that the master was aware of each servant’s ability and [...]
“Mommy Porn” — What Do You Think?
And no, it’s not what you think! I often read Penelope Trunk’s blog “The Brazen Careerist,” because she’s very up-front about the fact that she’s not perfect, work-life balance is not possible, and some days just stink. Sometimes her ideas for coping are outrageous; some days they actually make sense. I was VERY touched by [...]
Are You on God’s Cash or Credit System?
When I was younger and would become upset when people who did wrong got away with it—or worse, got promoted or rewarded for it—-my mom told me about God’s accounting system. It’s sometimes a comfort to me to think on this concept, as it explains why I seem never to be able to get away [...]
