We live in breath-taking times. Both the world’s beauty and its injustice can take our breath away—metaphorically and, alas, literally. How do we harness the power of our own breath to calm us, center us, and call us back to the source of life?
The first in a three-sermon holiday series called “Simple Gifts” that focuses successively on the spiritual gifts of silence, breath, and darkness. We often think of silence as an absence—the absence of noise. Yet silence can be filled with holy presence. The mystic Meister Eckhart … read more.
Reflecting on the state of our world, one religious leader recently lamented: “It’s hard to be human these days.” How do we claim the fullness of our lives, our love, and our humanity in times of violence, polarization and fear. Join Rev. Hardies and a … read more.
Pain and suffering are an inevitable part of life. None of us can avoid what William Shakespeare called “the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune.” But sometimes we compound our suffering by the way we respond to it, and by the stories we tell ourselves … read more.
Many of us carry around anger and resentment from past harm. Harboring such sentiments can feel like a form of justice—giving our pain its due. But what if our resentment is just inflicting more pain on us? How can we embrace the freedom that comes … read more.
What does it mean to be free? American culture can sometimes offer up a thin, watered-down version of freedom. But the world’s wisdom traditions offer other possibilities. What can love teach us about what it means to be free?
Homecoming Sunday
The great Zen teacher Shunryu Suzuki once wrote, “In the beginner’s mind there are many possibilities. In the expert’s mind, there are few.” As we begin a new church year and a new academic year, how can a beginner’s mind help us create new … read more.
Reflecting on the state of our world, one religious leader recently commented: “It’s hard to be human these days.” What are the urgent spiritual, moral, ethical, and religious questions that are on your heart as you wrestle with what it means to be human in these difficult … read more.
The sea has long been an object of religious contemplation. Spending time by the sea always does my soul good. Before summer is over, let’s ask what the sea can teach us about navigating the turbulent waters of our lives and our world.
Who are my people? This is one of the most fundamental spiritual questions we can ask and answer. These times call each of us to reach out across borders of difference and draw the circle of our community ever-larger.
