Category Archives: A life of faith

Jesus washes the feet of Judas

Posted on April 20, 2019 by hessd

Each of the accounts of Holy Week gives a different account of the relationship between Jesus and his disciple, Judas Iscariot. I want to puzzle a little today, in the time between the Maundy Thursday service and the Good Friday … Continue reading →

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God, are you still there?

Posted on April 1, 2019 by hessd

Not much of a question, from a theological point of view.  Yes.  God is still there.  A God who is everywhere is “there,” whatever you had in mind when you used that word. But the question is not very often … Continue reading →

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Turning cheeks and turning tables

Posted on March 12, 2019 by hessd

The little badger invented by Russell Hoban and brought charmingly to life in the illustrations of Lillian Hoban, has been my favorite badger for a long time. [1] I have liked all the Frances books, but I have had reason … Continue reading →

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Not being afraid

Posted on February 12, 2019 by hessd

There is nothing quite like fear to inspire an ardent interest in what works. I am going to cite today two formulations that have helped me and that I have thought about. [1]  It seems odd to me, as I … Continue reading →

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An impromptu Advent homily

Posted on December 10, 2018 by hessd

It is the practice of the senior center where I live to have a Vespers service on Sunday afternoons. It’s a very sensible thing to do because some residents who have spent their whole lives “going to church” really can’t … Continue reading →

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Work I can be trusted to do

Posted on November 30, 2018 by hessd

This is the last post of Blogging Year 2018 and I would like to spend it in the company of Andrew MacPhee, the resident skeptic at St. Anne’s in C. S. Lewis’s novel, That Hideous Strength. [1]  MacPhee is a … Continue reading →

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I am glad I am not THERE anymore

Posted on November 13, 2018 by hessd

If you have lived a long time, you have held views you no longer hold. Your choice, from the place you are now, is how to regard those views you once held. [1] I want to emphasize that this is … Continue reading →

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The Apostle Paul as a Sweep

Posted on August 15, 2018 by hessd

Let’s just grant “Chim chiminey, chim chiminey, chim chim cher-ee” and get past it. Dick Van Dyke is without question the most famous chimney sweep in the world, but it isn’t chimney sweeps I want to talk about. [1] IBT … Continue reading →

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“Jesus was brown”

Posted on August 9, 2018 by hessd

This sign was sprayed onto the bike path going down to the east bank of the Willamette River and I pass it several times each week. Until this last week, there was only the brown sign sprayed on the path, … Continue reading →

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Mother Theresa is a Servant

Posted on July 16, 2018 by hessd

And a hero.  And a saint.  You never hear anything bad about Mother Theresa. [1] And if you were waiting for me to say that I am going to stand up and start criticizing, you will wait for a long … Continue reading →

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