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2021-02-23T23:18:04-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

A Dream Deferred

Last updated on: February 23, 2021 at 11:18 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

A dream can be deferred, but not forever. You can go a good bit longer, if you have hope. You can defer your desire, if you can still dream that good will come. Hope only helps when there is a decent reason to think the dream can live, that history can become mythic, even for a moment. If a dream keeps getting pushed off, promising moments remain unfulfilling, then hope fades. A sage once said: 12Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but... Read more

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Spiritual Reflections

2021-02-22T00:45:13-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Lying about Goodness

Last updated on: February 22, 2021 at 12:45 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Be good! Hard to argue with this command, it being good to be good and all. Too often, however, the pursed lipped, censorious, humorless person with power, commands us to be good to avoid talking about where they compromise with the powerful. The Stalinist in the 1930’s is eager to condemn the Czarist, but not so happy to talk about the Ukraine. They know the New York Times will cover for them as will Christian professors. Who will believe that... Read more

Culture

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Spiritual Reflections

2021-02-22T00:39:40-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

On Language: Ignoring Context and History Leads to Grotesqueries

Last updated on: February 22, 2021 at 12:39 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Consider the power of language to liberate or brutalize. We can all learn from one of America’s greatest poets: Langston Hughes. Uncle Tom Within—The beaten pride. Without—The grinning face, The low, obsequious, Double bow, The sly and servile grace Of one the white folks Long ago Taught well To know his Place. Language does not, cannot, always mean what the dictionary says. A word may seem servile, but within, coded for other people to hear, the speaker is still... Read more

2021-02-22T00:33:11-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Two Way Evil of Hate

Last updated on: February 22, 2021 at 12:33 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Hatred is two-way bad. The worst of hatred is the damage done to the hated, but the hater also reaps evil. Christians must seek justice. We may wage war and must use the police power to protect from evil. We can never hate. One reason the state exists is to remove hatred, private revenge, from justice and also allow for mercy. Justice and mercy are much needed just now, but then they are always needed just now. A traditional Christian... Read more

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2021-02-22T00:17:47-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Turning the Corner or On the Houston Great Freeze (Langston Hughes)

Last updated on: February 22, 2021 at 12:17 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Final Curve When you turn the corner And you run into yourself Then you know that you have turned All the corners that are left.* “We are,” I thought, “recovering from Harvey.” Proud of Houston and of our community, I thought we were turning the corner and then friends in China began to talk of a virus. “We are,” I thought, “turning the corner on this pandemic.” And then the snow began and the water stopped, we did our best,... Read more

Culture

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Spiritual Reflections

2021-02-19T00:43:27-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Just a Drip of Water

Last updated on: February 19, 2021 at 12:43 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

The pipes groaned. We watched and there was a drip of water at the end of the nozzle. One drop. Was this just residue from the line? Were the rattling pipes frozen still? We stared and another droplet formed and hit the glass with a plop that was joyful. If the water drips steadily, however slowly, you can collect that water in a pot, boil, and use. We just needed a tiny drip, a lighter for the gas burners, and patience.... Read more

On Books

Spiritual Reflections

2021-02-19T00:24:21-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Still Here!

Last updated on: February 19, 2021 at 12:24 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Still Here I’ve been scarred and battered. My hopes the wind done scattered. Snow has friz me, sun has baked me. Looks like between ’em They done tried to make me Stop laughin’, stop lovin’, stop livin’— But I don’t care! I’m still here!* Take heart. If you are reading this, despite all temptations or provocations, you are still here. They have not got you yet and the good God and the cosmos love you: laugh, love, live. Some... Read more

Culture

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Spiritual Reflections

2021-02-19T01:19:55-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Rent

Last updated on: February 19, 2021 at 1:19 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Little Lyric (Of Great Importance) I wish the rent Was heaven sent.* When a great poet gives us a poem as short as the title, we must pause. If I wrote such a thing, then in all probability some teacher assigned a poem and this was my way of getting the darn thing done in time for bed on Sunday night. This poem is not that. Langston Hughes could clear this throat, double down on inspiration, and poetically preach for... Read more

Culture

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Spiritual Reflections

2021-02-19T01:59:38-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

Cold, Blue, Cold Monday

Last updated on: February 19, 2021 at 1:59 am By John Mark N. Reynolds

Blue Monday No use in my going Downtown to work today, It’s eight, I’m late—And it’s marked down that-a-way. Saturday and Sunday’s Fun to sport around. But no use denying—Monday’ll get you down. That old blue Monday Will surely get you down.* When you wake up in Houston, Texas with no power and water that is slowing to a drip, then this is not a good Monday. There are worse Mondays: the fall of Constantinople would be tomorrow in... Read more

Culture

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2021-02-14T21:59:01-04:00

LOGO Patheos Explore the world's faith through different perspectives on religion and spirituality! Patheos has the views of the prevalent religions and spiritualities of the world.

The Society of Saint Valentine, the Company of the 14th, Memory Eternal

Last updated on: February 14, 2021 at 9:59 pm By John Mark N. Reynolds

There are men so great that they change everything. If you can hang with Frederick Douglass, drop everything, find him, and learn. So many deceive themselves into thinking they can lie for the greater good, but a Douglass trumpets the truth for the true Good. His eloquence is sufficient against multitudes and he has the character to endure. Find Frederick Douglass. But God help us, such men are vanishingly rare. Frederick Douglass could educate Abraham Lincoln. This was Plato instructing Aristotle... Read more

Spiritual Reflections

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