Letters to a Spiritual Seeker
Each week, I write a letter exploring the spiritual malaise many of us experience but struggle to articulate and how we canĀ cultivate genuine connection and spiritual growth.
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A few years ago, I interviewed an American Buddhist nun who trained in Japan (Apple Spotify), and she shared how part of her training included begging for food and other forms of support. She explained that here in the United States, we interpret this act as a practice that cultivates humility in...
I often say God when talking about the spiritual journey.
I know the word is fraught with ideas, opinions, and personal histories that sometimes makes using it uncomfortable. Problematic even. I also use words like the Divine, Spirit, Presence, Buddha Nature, and My Darling. But I always...
I place a high value on faith.
My faith provides a framework for understanding life's challenges and finding meaning in my experiences. It helps me align my values with my behaviors, encourages self-reflection, personal accountability, and self-improvement. I think of my faith like a compass...
I distinctly remember the moment when I understood that social media was good for my life. I was staring at an image of Egyptian Christians holding hands in a circle and facing outward. Behind them, in the center, were Egyptian Muslims praying. Together, they were occupying Tahir Square and...
“I try to bring my authentic self and be vulnerable, but how do we find other people who are willing to drop the mask?”
I stared at this short, wonderful email for longer than I’d care to admit, partly, if I am honest, because I wanted to offer this person a solution. My ego...
Last week, I ended my letter to you by saying that community is the solution to the “new normal,” i.e., the overwhelmed modern life.
And I stand by that statement.
Not only have studies shown that social connections improve our mental health, reduce our symptoms of anxiety...
Last week, I shared a story about a congregant who was upset with my Easter sermon. Their letter began by explaining why they thought the content was inappropriate for children, but in the second half, they spoke about the anxiety they felt while listening to my more recent sermons. I took their...
Near the end of April, I received an email from a congregant of the church I now serve expressing discomfort with my Easter sermon. A month had passed, but they were still thinking about my message. Not in a good way. On the surface, they were upset with the content and did not feel it was...
