Antony and Athanasius

This Halloween, my intentional community hosted a party in which guests were invited to share personal stories about close encounters with death. After a few glasses of hard cider and a bottle or two of Pumpkin Ale, I shared my story of a marijuana-induced case of temporary toxic psychosis. As little “devils” rang our doorbell […]

The Gospel According to Kurt Cobain

Like Johnny Cash, Tupac and Elvis, Kurt Cobain has released almost more music posthumously than he did while living. The latest Nirvana release is a recording of their 1992 concert at the Reading Festival in England and it’s been in my car’s CD player ever since I bought it. As I scream/sing along with Cobain, […]

“Lord, if you had been here…”

Several months ago, I spent a couple nights at the Camaldoli Hermitage in Big Sur. Although all the monks observe a strict rule of silence most of the year, my visit fell on the feast day of their founder, St. Romuald, so I was able to eat cake and drink beer with the monks! One […]

Listening to Silence

They brought to Jesus a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech; and they begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him aside in private, away from the crowd, and put his fingers into his ears, and he spat and touched his tongue. Then looking up to heaven, he sighed […]

Liminal Space

Two nights ago, I attended a Spiritual Support group at St. Cyprian’s Episcopal Church on the corner of Turk and Lyon St. in San Francisco, only a few blocks away from where I once lived (six years ago at the Westmont College Urban Program’s beautiful home on Fell and Lyon). Although St. Cyprian’s was, at […]

The Words of Eternal Life

Thousands have agreed that it would be easier for them to forget about religion and Christianity. They have left the Church and they have turned their back on Christ. And perhaps they have lived simpler and happier lives as a result. I do not know. But when I feel tempted to leave, I hear Jesus […]

Do you also wish to go away?

“This teaching is difficult; who can accept it?” I find the lectionary readings for this Sunday very difficult and challenging to accept… “Then Solomon stood before the altar of the LORD in the presence of all the assembly of Israel, and spread out his hands to heaven” 1 Kings 8 When I read about Solomon […]

Heathrow

In a little place called London Heathrow Airport, I am. Twice, I thought I saw Ed Horsley in the airport, but after looking more closely I realized I was looking at middle-aged British women with scraggly hair. I slept uncomfortably for a few hours on the flight, watched two movies, and read Naim Ateek’s A […]

reLAX, finally

After eight hours of phone calls, 200 bones, and an unpleasant night sleep, I have arrived at my gate at LAX with my boarding pass in my pocket. Because I have only eaten peanuts, carrots and a bowl of cereal today, I decided to buy a dinner/snack at Starbucks. I just spent $10, which is […]

daniel ben bob and the 18 vertebrae

In Annie Dillard’s For the Time Being, I learned that 18 is the numerical value of the Hebrew word “life” and that when Jews pray to the ancient Western Wall they bend 18 vertebrae… In Jerusalem in the summer of 2003, my 18 vertebrae bent toward the Western Wall. Praying to the wall had always […]