WS Update: The God of the Valleys
The history of Israel in the Old Testament is a rich reservoir of insight into the character of God. 1 Kings 20 narrates a war between Syria and Israel. The Syrians believed that if they engaged Israel in the valley they would have an advantage. A prophet came to Israel’s king and said: This is…
WS Update: Reading and Resting
Horace, the leading Roman lyric poet during the time of Augustus, wrote a letter counseling a friend in search of answers to the timeless questions as Horace understood them: What is the way to become a friend to yourself? What brings tranquility? What makes you care less? His answer was to “interrogate the writings of the wise.”…
WS Update: Of Acorns and Walking
Walking our dog Charlie in Central Park on autumn mornings allows me to see beauty I would otherwise miss. It also allows me to “see” into deeper aspects of my own heart. Crunching under my feet the last few weeks have been acorns strewn by the hundreds on the ground: some on paved walks, others on hard soil,…
WS Update: Love is the Answer
We all agree that love is a virtue that, when exercised, makes life better because it makes relationships better. Yesterday we explored Jesus’ seemingly impossible command to be perfect as God is perfect. Instead of aggressively protecting our own rights and interests (eye for an eye), followers of Jesus are to treat others in a way…
WS Update: Connecting in America
A recent article titled “Why are we Lonely?” seeks to answer that question through the writings of Alexis de Tocqueville. In his “Democracy in America” de Tocqueville saw a restlessness in the modern world, captured by this quote: “Scarcely have you descended on the soil of America when you find yourself in the midst of…
WS Update: Mornings
I walk our dog every morning in Central Park and am regularly amazed at how many “morning people” there are in NYC. Some are riding bikes; others are running. Several are sipping coffee and reading. For those of you who are up early and want to use that time to connect with people in our…
WS Update: Living Water
Living in NYC for over 30 years, thousands of people have crossed my path. Faces and names come and go, but some individuals are indelible. Last week one of those individuals, Ellie Ellsworth, passed away after a short but painful battle with lung cancer. For those who never knew Ellie, she was someone who met…
WS Update: The Invitation
Earlier this summer The Atlantic published an article titled “How to Escape ‘the Worst Possible Timeline’” in which the author reflected upon the broad cultural pessimism that seems to have settled over our national dialogue like clouds blocking out the sun. Her recommendation was essentially a mindset shift: To break out of the spiral of…
WS Update: To Judge or Not to Judge
Jesus said, “Judge not, that you be not judged.” (Matthew 7:1) This may be the most recognized verse in the Bible today, and also one of the most understood. But it’s safe to say that our culture recoils at the idea of judgment, let alone a divine judgment at the end of history. And yet…
WS Update: Waiting With Hope
Waiting can be hard. When you’ve been eagerly looking forward to something becoming a reality, you want it to happen as soon as possible. It’s especially hard when the outcome is uncertain. Will things turn out good or bad? What will the test results reveal? Will I get the job, get into the school? Will…