Fuel for the long run of Lent
Last week, my crocuses bloomed brave and bright. Today, there is a 100 percent chance of snow. We’re in the slog of Midwestern spring, which is not really spring at all, but rather weather that teases [...]
The Thanksgiving Season has begun
Seven weeks from today is Christmas, and what we’ve come to call “the Christmas season” will come to an abrupt end. But when does the Christmas season begin? Most people complain that it begins earlier [...]
A springtime gift for your soul: Sabbath
Winter seems unwilling to yield to spring here in the Midwest, and I know we all feel weary. A month ago, my crocuses bloomed. Crocuses This week, we're getting snow. Check out this [...]
The surprising secret of transformation
I slip into my silent, dark house, shedding wet running shoes and jacket. In the kitchen, I pour a cup of coffee from the pot I made earlier and microwave it back to life. I [...]
How to run a marathon
I have reached the halfway point in an audacious adventure, in which I train for my first marathon. The training program is 18 weeks long, and I just finished week nine. I have a training [...]
Back on My Feet offers a path out of homelessness
My daughter skillfully navigates her Toyota through the dark, wet streets of downtown Los Angeles. It’s 5:30 a.m. and we are on our way to a run. “The area we are going, Skid Row, is [...]
Trail running in the dark
I park across the road from the entrance to the forest preserve. A few moments later, I am crossing the road with two of my friends to walk past the gate, which is still closed [...]
Come run with us! Announcing a “couch to 5K” opportunity
I’m a big believer in goal setting, in saying out loud what you want to strive for and achieve. Just articulating a goal makes it a lot more likely that you’ll achieve it. Writing down [...]
Imago Dei and pronouns
The Imago Dei is a mystery. How is it that we, made of dust, bear the image of God, the imprint of the divine? A mystery we can embrace but not fully explain, theologians have [...]
Doing things that are hard
At about 3 a.m., I am running in a warm, foggy rain down a wooded path, somewhere just south of Racine, Wisconsin. My glasses are constantly fogging up (why did I think taking out my [...]