Advent with A Kempis IV

Chapter 4: Prudence in Our Actions “It is also a part of wisdom neither to believe everything we hear, nor to pour it immediately into another’s ear.” I recently saw a bumper sticker that read, “Don’t Believe Everything You Think.” I appreciate the caution as it makes me reflect on the word believe. Etymologically, believe […]

Advent with A Kempis III

Chapter 3: The Teaching of Truth “Let all teachers be mute and all creation keep silence before You.” In our movement away from the false self and towards the true self, Kempis encourages us to let go of our attachment to knowledge, books and teachings. He asserts, “Certainly, when Judgment Day comes we shall not […]

Advent with A Kempis II

Chapter 2: Having a Humble Opinion of One’s Self “If I truly knew myself I would look upon myself as insignificant…” There are two ways to say, “I am God.” One way is the ultimate claim of hubris and the other way is the highest confession of humility. In this chapter, Kempis is directing us […]

Advent with A Kempis

Chapter 1: The Imitation of Christ and Contempt for the Vanities of the World “Christ’s teaching surpasses that of all the saints.” Several years ago, I grew sick and tired of my faith and was ready to give up on Christianity. I began to explore the teachings of the Buddha and Lao Tzu and […]

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 […]