Meg and I saw the film, “The Artist” last night. A bit reluctantly, I confess. For months now, I have wondered whether a silent film in black-and-white would be worth an evening at the Cinema Arts Theater. But then a … more
(Two days ago the internet universe exploded with an essay in the NY Times, “Why I Am Leaving Goldman Sachs.” A remarkably candid account of the disillusionment of a very gifted young investment banker, within hours it was most discussed … more
“It’s a calling.” On a long cross-continental plane ride today I saw the film, “The Big Year.” Mostly I’m not interested in airplane movies, as they typically scrape the bottom of the barrels, choosing stories that aren’t worth the hours … more
“’Well, I don’t want to leave my brains at the box-office.” Sitting next to Donald Drew in a movie theater when I as in my early twenties, he explained why he had taken a piece of paper from his pocket, … more
For a thousand reasons, very near to my heart, I find myself awakening to the poetry of U2’s “Grace.” Perhaps it is that today is Ash Wednesday, beginning days and weeks of repentant remembering the truest truths about me– in … more
Today is Mardi Gras, more affectionately known as Fat Tuesday, a holiday which I have fond memories celebrating while growing up. The local radio station in my small, Midwestern town held an annual call-in contest on Fat Tuesday in which … more
Driving home from Pittsburgh yesterday afternoon—after one more year of “going up to Jerusalem” for the annual Jubilee and its thesis that “everything matters” –I was listening to “The Best of Bob Dylan” as I made my way from Pennsylvania … more
Common grace for the common good—and cows, milk, a city, and a man whose vocation holds them all together. Because of years living in relation to Pittsburgh—some years as a resident and many years as a visitor –I have been … more
“Getting All A’s and Still Flunking Life.” A week ago I gave a lecture to a large gathering of town-and-gown on the Cornell University campus in Ithaca, NY. A weekend given to the “between two worlds” dynamic that John Stott … more
“It’s just not right.” All day long in all sorts of different ways we respond to the world with words that try to make sense of what we see and hear– and sometimes we protest, sometimes we lament, sometimes we … more