I completed my last Sunday service shift as a staff member at Unity of Gaithersburg today. The senior minister, Rev. Sheryl Myers, allowed me to talk to the community about my time with them and what’s next for me. I thought back to the first book study group I facilitated there: Brené Brown’s 2013 book on wholeheartedness in workplaces, relationships, and families, Daring […]
The truth is enough.
Matthew 5:33-37, part of the gospels’ summary of Jesus’s teachings, challenges the way we handle the truth. And it’s a necessary challenge. Truth, embellishments, hedges, and avoidances all make business and interpersonal relationships that much more complicated. We’ve learned to distrust marketers and their advertising claims, and “Just give it to me straight” is a […]
The Horror of Grace
Her church dean read the parable of the vineyard. And the children at Vacation Bible School protested the rules of the game. “Grace is not attractive,” she thought. “It’s not fair!” [Watch the video.] Once upon a time, I shared Brene Brown’s TED talk on vulnerability and shame with some relatives. The blowback I got […]
On Dodging Grief
My friend J Mase III, poet, writer, and co-founder of the weekly #qfaith Twitter chat, wrote an article about grief this week. He’d asked his followers about how others react to grief, what they say, and what we wish others said. Working on an article about grief. What do you wish someone said when you were grieving? […]