a prophetic voice-

River Run Fun Festival is in full swing in Winston-Salem, Triad, but it's not too late to get tickets to many promising films. So far, we've seen three- two documentaries and a narrative, and have given them scores of five, three, and four. Oh, just to explain, at each showing, the audience a is given a rating tab and asked to score their reaction to the film on a one to five scale, one being basically "I hated it" to five being  "Loved it, would recommend it." Not bad, I think, for early in our film-watching odyssey of thirteen films over nine days. This celebration of new and innovative films is a must-see for all film buffs in the area, in my opinion. To learn more, go to the River Run website (www.riverrunfilm.com )and then go, go, go to sister city, Winston-Salem, for a memorable experience. Kuddos, too, to UNCSA for their wonderful, energetic, totally fun presentation of "Guys and Dolls" at the Stevens Center. If you have neve...

How can anyone possibly not believe in resurrection, in new life, with everything bursting into bloom here in North Carolina? My drive to church has presented an ever- changing panorama of color over the past few weeks, a delight to the eyes...a special joy when my both my spirit and flesh are tired and in need of rejuvenation. And it astounds me just how quickly it has happened. Not so very long ago, the trees lining Highway 52 were bare, presenting their naked arms to the sky- beautifully stark  but truly barren to the eye. And then- pow! Leaf buds showing red and green...then unfolding into leaves of every variety...redbuds and forsythia painting the landscape with delicate hues of yellow and pale purple. And just this week, clouds and crowds of dogwoods seemingly emerging out of nowhere, filling the woodlands with their bridal-wreath white blossoms, dancing with joy in the April breezes. All around my neighborhood, flocks of azaleas are bedecking  yards...

Don't ask me why I'm so worn out today, so emotionally and physically drained on this Easter Monday. I just am. Guess if I'm going to be kind, generous, and loving to myself, I'll acknowledge that the past week has been...well, challenging, to say the least. Not just the spiritually demanding nature of the worship on Maundy Thursday and Good Friday, both of which I truly love, but both of which exact a deep toll from me. Not just the Saturday morning confirmation class with four kids I truly love. Not just the Easter worship, with its demanding proclamation...yes, demanding, since those sitting in the pews have heard it so often that it is a preaching challenge to not sound like a broken record. Each and all of these required hours of preparation, and as much as I enjoy preparation, those efforts truly sapped me of energy. But this Holy Week there was the additional emotional burden...well, not burden, exactly, but a heavy weight of responsibility, to be...

I have been struggling with something for a very long time...how to discern when speaking out is courageous and prophetic and when it serves only to deepen the chasms which already divide us from one another. Is remaining quiet wisdom or cowardice? And will my words really convince you- whoever you are- of the logic and rightness of my position, when I know in my heart of hearts that none of your words will convince me to accept and adopt yours? I have watched and heard and read so many words about things that I consider vitally important, that I see as matters of justice, inclusivity, and acceptance and I confess that the words coming from those whose position, ideas, beliefs are diametrically opposed to my own just make no sense to me. And they certainly do not make me back off or take a different stance. The realization that this is true for me makes me wonder just how efficacious arguing about things really is. What actually impresses us to not only hear but to ...

Today I am still smiling...smiling broadly, my heart overflowing with joy. You see, last evening, at seven o'clock, I had the great honor, privilege, gift, of presiding at the wedding of two wonderful friends whose lives have been intermingled for the last eighteen years. Greg and Tim were finally able to publicly acknowledge their union and there were any number of moist eyes in the chapel, including my own, as they exchanged vows and rings. There was so much love abounding in that room that I could feel it...quite literally, feel it. And the blessing of the God of Love and Grace was surely, truly present, flowing over and around and from these two very special individuals who pledged their union before that same God and those of us privileged to be gathered as witnesses. Now, I have never particularly enjoyed presiding at weddings. Give me a baptism or a funeral any day. Wedding directors and, all too frequently, mothers of the bride, can drive me up the wall, as t...

Battle lines being drawn...name calling and prejudices and the failure to see  in the human beings around us our similarities  rather than just our differences... states like Indiana passing  laws to justify injustice, to codify the many ways  we separate  ourselves...while prisons are filled with young men of color and LGBTQ folks are held at arm's length by those who convince  themselves  that they- and only they - have the right to decide  who has been created in  the image of God. just live! Moral certainties make my hair stand on end, make my teeth hurt, especially when expounded by those who seem to thrive on drawing battle lines & boundaries… whose goal seems separation & one-upmanship instead of reconciliation & compromise. A bsolutes invite hypocrisy, as we have so often seen among the ‘famous’ of our day, as revelation of another’s feet of clay is met by judgment, anger, and ...

Awake...alert to possibilities Enshrouded in hope Prodded by pinpricks of daring A voice variously whispering, singing, shouting Yes, you can! Aware that only if I let go of    security...certainty...routine Will I ever FLY