Today is my beautiful wife’s, Stephanie Augusta Elliott’s, birthday. The more I think about her and all of her amazing qualities and virtues, I realize that I value her birthday infinitely more than mine. For, birthdays are a celebration of an individual’s life, and I would much rather celebrate my wife’s life than my own. […]
Read More Folding the Laundry: A Meditation on my Wife’s BirthdayI find myself writing on death quite frequently. Every year for the anniversary of my father’s death, I write a theological reflection and meditation on the concept and reality of human death. Death has always had a certain hold on me, and I have always had a certain contemplative fascination with it as both a […]
Read More Death in the Garden: A Reflection on my Grandmother’s DeathIn moments of confusion and uncertainty, moments that cut to the heart and cause man to question the goodness of God, it is good that man seek God above all else. I often have to remind myself of this truth. Evil actions of men in this world such as the recent murders of Alton Sterling, […]
Read More Brothers at War: Theologically Reflecting on RacePeter Lawler stated in a recent article, “Philosophy is learning how to die, to get over obsessing about your personal significance. Being (existence) itself is not in our hands.” Lawler aligns himself with great thinkers such as Plato, Cicero, and Montaigne in believing that Philosophy has the purpose of preparing oneself to die. Shakespeare […]
Read More Medicine for an Anxious Heart: a Christian Meditation on Death and FearThis morning, like most mornings now, I found myself reading an article on Donald Trump’s candidacy. Everyday I ask myself the question, “How can so many American Evangelicals support such an openly narcissistic, power driven man?” Sarah Palin endorsed him, Jerry Falwell Jr., the president of Liberty University, endorsed him,[1] and not too long ago, […]
Read More Like the Blind Leading the Blind: Donald Trump and Evangelicals“All the heavens can fit in the palm of God’s hand; the earth and the sea are measured in the hollow of His hand. And though He is so great that He can grasp all creation in his palm, you can wholly embrace Him; He dwells within you…saying: I will dwell in them, and walk […]
Read More St. Gregory of Nyssa on Divine Transcendence and PresenceWhat if I told you I was a Greek god? What if I told you that people offered sacrifices of food and libations to me? Well, it is true. Let me explain. In Greek mythology, gods were built temples in which human subjects would bring offerings of food, drink, and incense. Greek citizens would try […]
Read More The Glory of the GodsLuke 24:13-35 tells the story known as the Road to Emmaus. In this story, the recently risen Jesus Christ comes along two confused and saddened disciples, who are struggling with Christ’s recent crucifixion and subsequent death. In this account the disciples do not recognize who Jesus is, because their “eyes are restrained;” (Luke 24:16 NRSV) they […]
Read More The Road to Emmaus: Reconsidering the Eucharist as a Spiritual MealA child of five years I was Sitting, waiting, confused. People whispering in hushed tones; People crying with sorrowful mourns. “Where’s mommy?” I asked. No response. No one wanted to answer. No one did answer. A child of five I was; Lifted up, looking at, and wondering why Everyone was watching daddy sleep. “Why is […]
Read More The Paradox of DeathToday, being the sixteenth anniversary of my father’s death, I reflect and meditate on the truths of God pertaining to death and life. This is my consolation. Reflecting on the nature of God truly is the only consolation I have found in this life, in my sorrow. Asking questions of God, and meditating on how […]
Read More Thoughts on Fatherhood from One Who is Fatherless
