Intersections

  “Epiphanies awaken the soul.” ― Adrienne Posey I’ve started writing this article too many times. I keep waiting for MY epiphany.  Feeling the inspiration course through our veins is such a good feeling - especially when I have a deadline. But it can be so disheartening when it’s not there.  That’s the fleeting nature of epiphanies. They come - and hopefully, at least one has come to you - that the grace of God through Jesus Christ has forever changed you into believing that he is the Son of God who came to redeem the world’s hurt and harm with his sacrifice of purity and love. But much like love and sometimes faith - epiphanies escape us when we need them the most. You know what it feels like, but it’s not something that always sticks around, like a soul earthquake, revealing something new. Your soul is lit up and determined to change your life. The wise men had a long way to travel and knew very little about what they would find once they arrived. They were op...

  So - here we are in November! I’m getting excited about the football season, the temperature dropping, and Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. We are also finishing up the liturgical year, because we start the year at Advent, which this year is kind of early - the Sunday after Thanksgiving, November 28th.  Anyway - I’m getting ahead of myself. We’ll get there. Today, however, we are looking at the Gospel reading from Luke, found in Chapter 12, verses 38 to 41. This is typically referred to as the parable of the Widow’s Mite.  Now, let’s go through what’s happening here. We need context, because we were not part of the original story. This is a pretty common text here for stewardship, and on its surface, the story is perfect for it. But when we dig deeper, Jesus packs a lot into his parables for it to be brought out.  We are still in the passion week, during the after arriving in Jerusalem, and this story happens right after the text last week. A...

     What’s the strangest thing you’ve eaten? I occasionally like to try new things. There’s been a list around Facebook that lists things like a snake, possum, or famously includes haggis for a few years. For those who don’t know, it’s a traditional Scottish dish, made of sheep’s heart, liver, and lungs, and among spices and other flavorings, but wrapped in the animal’s stomach like a casing for sausage. I don’t mean to turn your stomach so early in the morning, but that is something strange. The weirdest thing that I have ever eaten is blood sausage. I spent Christmas in Norway about fifteen years ago, where it is a traditional dish to make for the holiday. Just even talking about it, I get the memory back. The family I was with waited in anticipation for my reaction and laughed when I didn’t have the nerve to finish. It has a strong flavor, and yet the spices still didn’t cover up the apparent blood taste.       Anyway - I digress. As much as th...