From D.W.: In the last couple months of Rachel’s life she had been very seriously exploring a career change. I’m not sure how many people know that, but it wasn’t a secret, so I don’t think she’d be upset with me telling you. The
From D.W.: Sometimes, when there’s a lot going on in my life or in the world, I like to post a little quick hit here, rather than a more topical post. It’s a nice little break from the world, and a reminder from Rachel that not every
From D.W.: Rachel and I would often joke about which one of us would die first. We both insisted it had to be us, not the other one, because the pain of loss would be too great. “If you die before me, so help me god!” “If I catch
From D.W.: Our democracy is fragile. Many people have known that much longer than I. It’s held together too often by polite agreements about norms, and traditions, and a shared understanding of equal representation. Sometimes, when those polite accords are tested, or when we discover that our understanding
From D.W.: Yesterday was my niece AK’s birthday. They turned 18. Rachel and AK had a special relationship that started the first time they met. When Rachel and I were dating we made short trip to Belton, TX to visit my sister and her family. This would be
From D.W.: Back in late August of last year I posted some of Rachel’s writing about gun violence in this country and noted that I was only posting a small collection of her writing on the topic because there would inevitably be need for more. And here we
From D.W.: I’m probably not the only one here that gets so focused on outrage that they forget about peace. Some outrage is ok. Necessary, even, in the face of the outrageous. And our priorities should be measured in degree by the things that make us outraged. But,
From D.W.: To all those readers who followed along through the Lenten series over the past two months, thank you so much. I hope that it brought you some joy, or reflection, or comfort. I’m glad that I could offer them, but I’ll level with you: now
Thursday in Easter Week Easter Hangover... ...been kind of quiet, last couple of weeks. holy week was FAST and INTENSE. i was real glad when Jesus came back on Sunday. lent seemed a lot longer than it usually does. i mean, it wasn't...but those forty days sure
The writing of Rachel Graves Jones
Easter Sunday Sally and the Question of Fairness “What’s the deal with God being so unfair?” --Clueless in Colorado People have wrestled with the unfairness of God for as long as we’ve been in relationship to something larger than ourselves. I’ve spent a large part of Lent
The Wednesday in Holy Week Isaiah 50:4-9a; Hebrews 9:11-15,24-28; John 13:21-35 or Matthew 26:1-5,14-25; Psalm 69:7-15, 22-23 “I give you a new commandment, that you love one another.” The Gospel of John is my favorite
Palm Sunday Sally and a Lenten Walk The work of the eyes is done. Go now and do the heart-work on the images imprisoned within you. --Rilke Palm Sunday is my least favorite Sunday of all. The bipolarity of it makes me anxious in ways I can’t even
The Saturday in the Fifth Week of Lent Exodus 3:7-12; Luke 6:27-36; Psalm 77:11-20 or Psalm 98:1-4 I know that love is ultimately the only answer to mankind's problems. And I'm going to talk about it everywhere I
The Tuesday in the Fourth Week of Lent He came to save us...to save the world. He still does it every single day. One time, he even went all the way to hell, and back again. He did it for you. He did it for me. He did it,
The Fourth Sunday in Lent 2 Chronicles 36:14-23; Ephesians 2:4-10; John 6:4-15; Psalm 122 “Gracious Father, whose ever blessed Son Jesus Christ came down from heaven to be the true bread which fives life to the world; Evermore give us this bread, that he
The Wednesday in the Third Week of Lent Ecclesiasticus 47:8-10; Luke 24:44-48; Psalm 122 or Psalm 34:1-8 Jerusalem the golden, With milk and honey blest, Beneath thy contemplation Sink heart and voice opprest. I know not, oh, I know not, What joys await us
The Friday in the Second Week of Lent Deuteronomy 6:20-25; Acts 8:26-39; Psalm 86:11-17; John 4:31-38 You neglect and belittle the desert. The desert is not remote in southern tropics The desert is not only around the corner, The desert is squeezed
The Second Sunday in Lent Genesis 22:1-14; Romans 8:31-39; Mark 8:31-38; Psalm 16 or 16:5-11 In humility is the greatest freedom As long as you have to defend the imaginary self that you think is important, you lose your peace of heart.
The Saturday in the First Week of Lent Hebrews 10:32-39; Matthew 24:9-14; Psalm 34:1-8 or Psalm 124 Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that
The First Sunday in Lent Genesis 9:8-17; 1 Peter 3:18-22; Mark 1:9-13; Psalm 25 or 25:3-9 Say to them, say to the down-keepers, the sun-slappers, the self-soilers, the harmony-hushers, "Even if you are not ready for day,
The Thursday After Ash Wednesday Lent is about persistence, not perfection. So, it’s Thursday. You made it to whatever part of your day when it is that you read this–good job! It’s also the first day after Ash Wednesday–totally officially Lent. How’s that working for
