Robert Louis Stevenson was a 19th century Scottish novelist and poet. His work includes thrillers like Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and the adventure tale Treasure Island, as well as the more innocent offerings in A Child’s Garden of Verses (“the world is so full of a number of things, I’m sure we should all be as happy as kings”).

Growing up in Edinburgh, Stevenson suffered from tuberculosis which kept him isolated from other children. Often alone, he was often lonely too. For many hours of every day, he would stare out the window, face pressed against the glass, taking in the activity on his street and in his neighborhood…..

Last Sunday I preached about collective, relational peace—and I used the eating habits of the unicellular stentor as an example of individual energies combined and magnified for the greater good. One of my favorite things about preaching is continuing the conversation once the sermon is done, and after the service on Sunday I was approached by a visitor who told me that a similar collective process happens with the formation of stars.

Apparently, (and a quick online search reinforces this), stars begin with cosmic dust. The dust responds to gravitational pull, and the more dust coalesces, the greater that pull becomes. Stardust attracts more stardust. This stardust combines with atmospheric gasses, forming what’s known as “stellar nurseries.” The positive energy cycle grows and grows until the gravitational force becomes so great that the collective mass folds in on itself, concentrates, ignites, and becomes a star…..

When we think about peace, we often picture a serene landscape, a quiet moment, or a calm demeanor. The peace that God offers us is not dependent on our circumstances. It’s not about the absence of trouble, but the presence of Christ. It’s about trusting in God’s sovereignty, even when life is chaotic and uncertain.

During our trials and tribulations, we can experience God’s peace. It’s a peace that doesn’t make sense to the world. It’s a peace that transcends human understanding. It’s a peace that guards our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

When we’re anxious, we’re told to pray and present our requests to God. This should be done with thanksgiving, because thanksgiving is an expression of trust. It’s a way of saying, “God, I believe that you’re in control….

My son Zachary shared this story with me recently: last weekend, during the gorgeous Spring weather (especially appreciated by all after the days of rain that preceded it!), he decided to take a book to Central Park to read and people-watch in the sun. The park was crowded, but the vibes were good. Everyone was enjoying the liberating feeling of being outside.

Zachary made himself at home on a bench, comfortable with his iced coffee and his reading material. People rotated through inhabiting the empty spaces on either side of where he was sitting. Eventually, a couple approached the bench next to him. They were carrying paper bags with food from a deli and getting ready to share some al fresco brunch and conversation. But before they sat down one of them said, “Wait! Let’s see who we’re spending time with today.”….

Yesterday, May 8, we commemorated the feast day of Dame Julian of Norwich, who is the first woman we know of to have written a book in English. She was born in 1342 in England, and lived during a time of upheaval that included famine, revolts, and the Black Plague. When she was thirty, she became gravely ill and was expected to die. Just after receiving last rites, she began having a series of mystical visions of Christ suffering on the cross. The experience brought her great comfort and joy, and she wrote the visions down in a book called Revelations of Divine Love. She later became an anchorite, living in a tiny cell attached to the church Norwich, and she developed a reputation as a wise spiritual counselor….

In March, a series of short videos that focused on toddlers and sharing were making the rounds. In each of the clips, a toddler was seated in the middle between two people. In front of each person was a plate with a napkin covering it, and on the count of three each person took the napkin away to reveal a surprise. The toddler got two cookies, one of the participants got one cookie, and one person’s plate was empty…..

Today we remember with sorrow the assassination of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Dr. King was shot on the balcony connected to room 306 in the Lorraine Motel in Memphis, Tennessee. He was in Memphis to support African American sanitation workers, who were striking for higher wages, better working conditions, and union recognition…..

This Sunday, April 13, is Palm Sunday. It marks the beginning of Holy Week, when we will liturgically walk with Jesus to his death and celebrate his resurrection which brings us all into new life. In an intriguing synchronicity, yesterday, April 10, was the commemoration of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

As you may remember, Bonhoeffer was a major figure in the Protestant resistance to Hitler and the Nazis. He was arrested in 1943 for contributing to a failed attempt on Hitler’s life. He was executed on April 9, 1945, less than a week before the Allies liberated the prison camp he was in. As he was led away to his death, Bonhoeffer said to a fellow prisoner, “This is the end – but for me it is the beginning of Life!”…