“Isn’t improv hard?” My wife asked me at breakfast, after I’d been waxing poetic about the 2015 Young Adult retreat, where my friends Barbara Allen and Bill Sabo led us in exploring the spirituality of improvisation. “Not really,” I said, and then I thought about it. “I suppose it is hard, but in the way … Continue reading Communities of Discovery

I'm having trouble referring to God as "Lord" these days, so I'm borrowing from Mechthild of Magdeburg and calling God "the Love Beyond All Love" instead.  A nod to bridal mysticism, and a gesture away from theologies of dominance.  The text comes from the 96th Psalm.  Here are verses 1-9: Sing to the LORD a … Continue reading The Beauty of Holiness

A line from one of my favorite psalms, Psalm 30.  Here's the full text of the psalm. I will exalt you, O LORD, because you have lifted me up * and have not let my enemies triumph over me. O LORD my God, I cried out to you, * and you restored me to health. … Continue reading Joy Comes in the Morning

Making this painting, taking morning walks in this suddenly beautiful spring time, and reflecting on Mary Magdalene as a person were all one and the same act for me.  Her face, as I painted it, is a little frightened, a little reserved, maybe even somewhat skeptical.  The face of someone who's been hurt by hope, … Continue reading Mary Magdalene Meets the Risen Christ

I'll admit that it's an odd painting.  The Risen Christ, combined with the Green Man, a figure of verdancy and hope.  While painting it, I was responding to Ann Griffith's poem, I Saw Him Standing, which you can read below.  It's translated from the Welsh by Rowan Williams.  What I particularly like is the reference to … Continue reading Stations of the Resurrection