spiritual

One Last Winter’s Tale

Stabbed selling crack on a side street in Nassau County, Jake told us he couldn’t lift his arm over his shoulder and then raised that arm straight up to expose a line of scars dotting his ribcage and trailing off around his back. Turning slowly and deliberately like a model, clutching his shirt to keep…Read more One Last Winter’s Tale

Invocation

Honored and blessed to give an Invocation at County Executive, Mike Hein's, State of the County Address.  Our county is strong and innovative and green and beautiful, and our County Executive and his staff are awesome! Here is my prayer: Eternal God of all people and places, fill us with gratitude and grace and open…Read more Invocation

For John

The Lilacs In full bloom and fragrance, the lilacs sang an irresistible opus, and I reached out to pull one closer to my nose. “Smell your own damn lilacs!” my neighbor yelled, and I struggled to laugh and breathe deeply at the same time. Like a snarky, stand-up comic, John inspired laughter with his satire.…Read more For John

For Birdie & Christopher

“Never bet against the Steelers.” That’s one of the things my friend, Owen, taught me. I don’t work in a bar anymore, and I’m not a huge football fan, but I’ll always put Owen and the Steelers together. If they ever win a Super Bowl, I’ll think, “Owen must be pleased.” After the Steelers, my…Read more For Birdie & Christopher

Confession

The tired, old line is so familiar I don’t have to finish it—you know how it goes—confession is good for the … Soul. And mine aches because I am a sinner standing in the need of grace. In fact, I just sobbed in the bathtub. Don’t worry. It’s not like I was sitting in there…Read more Confession