Across Church Street
In
Not better, but other.
Do everything without grumbling or arguing, so that you may become blameless and pure, “children of God without fault in a warped and crooked generation.” Then you will shine among them like stars in the sky as you hold firmly to the word of life. — Philippians 2:14-16
Inserted, implanted, embedded, injected, introduced. Something foreign has been placed into a warped and crooked generation—something blameless and pure—a brilliant navigational reference set against the darkness.
Stroad
Our spiritual life will include fast and slow. But stay away from stroads.
The twelve gates were twelve pearls, each gate made of a single pearl. The great street of the city was of gold, as pure as transparent glass. ⏤ Revelation 21:21
Streets are for local traffic. Roads are thoroughfares. Travel streets slowly enough to stop for a kid's ball, wave to a neighbor, or admire someone's landscape. Travel roads to get somewhere faster. Streets are relational, prioritizing the here and now. Roads aim for a destination. And now there's the stroad —a corruption of street and road —serving neither purpose well.
Already Heard That
Repetition is a gift if we allow it to be.
So I will always remind you of these things, even though you know them and are firmly established in the truth you now have. — 1 Peter 1:12
Once upon a time, long, long ago, I played in a marching band. We rehearsed and practiced our routines constantly. (One year, we won the state competition!) A regular reminder, like practice, helps us stay focused and improve at something. It also frees us from being so mechanical when our big moment arrives.
- love
- Holy Spirit
- humility
- church
- poverty & mercy
- politics & society
- mission & witness
- holiness
- parable & metaphor
- identity
- eternal life
- doubt & deconstruction
- leadership
- grace
- justice
- scripture
- spiritual life
- advent & christmas
- imagination & creativity
- technology & AI
- knowing God
- human dignity
- faith & trust
- incarnation & cross
- kingdom of God
- community
- reconciliation
- spiritual formation
- epistemology
- prayer
- gratitude
- culture
- creation & nature
- discipleship
I practice the spiritual discipline of rescuing earthworms on paved surfaces. It's a reminder to me that I can pause what I'm doing, get a little dirty, and help. Also, that I've been given the responsibility to care.