“I wonder as I wander out under the sky, How Jesus the Savior did come for to die…” In the English language the verb “to wonder” can have either a positive or negative connotation, evident from its second and third definitions in the Oxford English Dictionary: – the 2nd definition:  “feel doubt” – the 3rd definition:   […]

Read More An Advent meditation: How can I be sure about all this?

“Chains shall he break, for the slave is our brother. And in his name all oppression shall cease.” When grappling with the unspeakable injustices that stain our world, my default is to vacillate between a naïve and idealistic triumphalism (“We can do this!”) and a self-righteous and narcissistic cynicism (“Why even bother?”).  Further, I have an […]

Read More An Advent Meditation: Can there be justice if it’s just us?

“Long lay the world in sin and error pining Till he appeared and the soul felt its worth.” Just before Christmas three years ago Sarah and I had the pleasure of being with our families over the holidays for the first time in–I honestly don’t remember–a decade or so?  We were so excited to enjoy a snowy Christmas […]

Read More An Advent meditation: our bodies, our worth and our unworthiness