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January 2021

J

An abundance of remembering

I’m an avid reader of obituaries—a habit that keeps me grounded and grateful. Through the past months, I’ve noticed that, “due to COVID-19 complications,” most memorial services for loved ones are being delayed until unknown future times. Sooner or later, a multitude of these events could fill our calendars.  A good thing! I can envision these soon-to-come memorials as distinctly different fromMORE...

Creeping out of my cave

I’m starting to anticipate that these long months of hermitage will be coming to an end. There will be a day—I’m thinking that it’ll be sunny and warm—when I can put my collection of face masks into the back of a drawer, and come out into the world without worrying about the dangers of hidden viruses being spread just by my breathing. That will be a good day, whenever and however it comes—perhapsMORE...

Now thank we all our God!

Sometimes it makes sense to let someone else do the writing—in this case, someone from almost 400 years ago. His name was Martin Rinckart, a Lutheran musician/pastor in Eilenburg, Germany. This fortress town was a haven for refugees from the Thirty Years War that raged during Rinckart’s entire career. It didn’t take long for famine, disease and war to take their toll on the population. When heMORE...

Breathe!

It may be too soon, but I’m ready to greet–and continue–each new day with deep-breathing—not holding my breath until I check news feeds or e-mail from overnight. Real breathing, too, not the short inhaling and exhaling that’s a sign of anxiety or stress. What kind of breathing? Deep, slow respiration that exchanges oxygen for CO2. Breathing that replenishes every cell in my body andMORE...

*”Vengeance is mine”

I want to be one of the avengers. That feeling is especially strong today, as our nation waits to see what further acts of insurrection will occur at the hand of political insurgents—and their behind-the-scenes enablers. These folks deserve retribution—punishment that matches their injustices. I’ll admit it: I’d like to be part of that payback. Some deeper truths bring me up short, though…MORE...

Trying to learn from all this

It would be easy to react to last week’s attempted insurrection with righteous anger. I don’t think that’s enough, though. Part of being an older adult is to learn from what occurs around me and inside me. It’s necessary for me to build on and use whatever wisdom might come from reflecting more deeply. Some examples…. I saw people holding onto identities made from muddy lies. Because lieMORE...

Holy family work (Part 2)

There are some parallels between the post-Christmas work of Jesus’ parents and the work that lies before us in these times. Salvation has come upon us—perhaps seen in the results of this past election—yearnings for righteousness to return. We’ve prayed for rescue from evil and oppression, and now that seems possible. The message of Christmas has assured and calmed us once again. Like Mary andMORE...

Holy family work (Part 1)

This past Sunday after Christmas is also known as Holy Family Sunday—a time to celebrate Mary and Joseph’s role in the story of salvation. The day’s lectionary texts hinted at an obvious reality: The Baby Jesus didn’t turn into the mature Jesus overnight. There were at least 30 years between the angels’ announcement of salvation’s dawn and the beginning of Jesus’ formal ministry. Christmas was aMORE...

Fa-la-la-la-lah, etc.

The New Year is upon us, ye lads and lasses—a good time to be jolly! Fast away the old year has passed, so it’s time to hail the new year—regardless of wind or weather!  Let’s get right to it…. It was an “old year”, wasn’t it? In too many ways, the events of the year—and the folks that concocted them—made us old, or at least older than we wanted. Whatever’s not good about being old—there it wasMORE...

Bob Sitze

BOB SITZE has filled the many years of his lifework in diverse settings around the United States. His calling has included careers as a teacher/principal, church musician, writer/author, denominational executive staff member and meat worker. Bob lives in Wheaton, IL.

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