Entries in this category probe deeper thoughts about old age. Spirituality, self-image, relationships, hopes and yearnings — all the stuff of self-talk and core meaning for people who are older.
Christmas is upon us, with its insistent question, “What do you want to do about all of this?” Another question tags along: “How would any of us welcome a baby who came into our homes?” At the beginning of Advent we were comforted with the words of Isaiah about a child—a babe—being born to a virgin. A perhaps-small reason to hope during our own troubled times. But we knew, we believed, and weMORE...
Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today’s final blog in the series focuses on single-minded attention only to our own needs. Händel’s Messiah includes the spirited “All We Like Sheep”, based on Isaiah 53:6. The chorus romps through somber matters that seem to call for repentance instead: We areMORE...
Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today’s blog continues that theme, this time focused on the eventual outcomes of a life of continuing lying. I don’t always tell the truth. No matter what other names I attach to this behavior, it’s still always lying. In some parts of my life I’ve assembled fortresses ofMORE...
Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today’s blog continues that theme, this time focused on my sometimes unwillingness to take responsibility. One part of being sinful is not doing what needs to get done. “Sins of omission” is the doctrinal term. In the Confession of Sins at the start of worship, this matterMORE...
This entry introduces a short series of occasional blogs that will appear during Advent. Over the centuries, Advent has been a time of expectant repentance—part of our preparation for Christ to come into our lives. Today we start at the beginning of that process—thinking about confession. In my worship tradition, the liturgy begins with a signature invocation—“In the Name of the Father, the SonMORE...
I don’t know about you, but this year’s family Christmas newsletter is going to be different. Really different! I’ve already started thinking how I’m going to approach the usual task of pulling together recollections and observations about the past year. Finding just the right photos to emphasize some of that material. I’m guessing that it’s not going to be easy for any of us who take upMORE...
The Thanksgiving holiday(s) will be here soon, with their usual invitations for hearty fellowship, feasting and shopping. But not this year. COVID has called into question any celebrations that involve perhaps-risky activities. This year many of us will observe this holiday season in unusual ways. We may feel that if we can’t do what we’ve always done, something must be wrong. That we don’tMORE...
Throughout history, there have been names whose very utterance was ill-advised or even dangerous. Either the names were holy and ineffable—beyond our right or ability to speak them—or so despicable that the mere sound of the name might recall unmentionable evil. (In the first case, think YAWEH or Mohammed. In the second case, remember names like the fictional Lord Voldemort, Adolf Hitler or DearMORE...
Over the past four years I have grown weary, seeing how our nation has been breathing a kind of spiritual/emotional air pollution. We’ve been inhaling a smog of toxic attitudes that may have slowly destroyed our spirits. With the results of this election now becoming apparent, it feels like the Spirit’s wind has blown away the pollutants so that we can breathe clean air again. The metaphor makesMORE...
After all these years, you’d think I know a lot. All my life experiences, all the training, all the reading and writing, all the interactions with people in the know—you’d think that would give me a leg up on this “knowing” thing. I’ve wished for some assurance about what’s true right now, but too many of the polls, algorithms, pundits and editorials aren’t reliable. There’s too much to know, andMORE...
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.