Rustlings (November 16, 2020)
Perspective makes all the difference in the world. I’ve played bass guitar for three years now. It all started when Kyle Matthews asked me to learn ‘one song’ on bass to accompany Rolyn Rollins during a MidWeek Fellowship service at church. Since that night, I’ve purchased gear, taken lessons, read books, started a band, and […]
Rustlings (November 9, 2020)
I am certainly no expert in world history. My knowledge of ancient history is particularly connected and essentially limited to my acquaintance with biblical literature. I have never been a history buff. I like history buffs. I’ve just never been one, so I usually paint the past tense in broad strokes…really broad biblical strokes. From […]
Rustlings (November 2, 2020)
Rest in peace. Like many of you, I was moved by the All Saints Day service this past Sunday. As was stated during the service, our ability to grieve together and celebrate together has certainly been limited this year. Seeing the pictures of our saints during the service had a cathartic effect for me. In […]
Rustlings (October 26, 2020)
From the beginning of this pandemic, I’ve known the arts would both suffer and sustain us. It is always that way with art. Artists struggle. In their struggle, they dream, create and share the nourishment of spiritual survival. When people ask what I’ve missed most during the pandemic, my quick answer is contact with family—biological […]
Rustlings (October 12, 2020)
As we step into the last quarter of 2020, I’m keenly aware of what and who we have lost this year. Weekly, your ministers counsel with members of the church and community who are grieving the loss of events, milestones and even worse, souls that have been close to us and important to us. In […]
Rustlings (October 5, 2020)
This past weekend, I traveled for the first time since January. I took all appropriate COVID-19 measures: sanitized before and after fueling my car, was privileged to have two nights lodging in a safe and beautiful home, and was masked during any contact with other people. I was on Pawleys Island to perform a small, […]
Rustlings (September 28, 2020)
I guess it is time for a confession…and the accompanying challenge… The confession… I sat down at the piano last week for the first time in twenty-three years. I adjusted the stool, placed my fingers above the keys in middle C position, and attempted to play a scale. One hand was doable—not particularly musical, but […]
Rustlings (September 21, 2020)
I have multiple friends (which in and of itself is a blessing) who daily journal their gratitudes. Each evening, as they reflect upon their day, they list three or four or five things for which they are grateful. I’m writing on Sunday evening, September 20, and reflecting on today’s events. Allow me to share three […]
Rustlings (September 8, 2020)
If your mailbox has been like my mailbox, it’s been void of the typical invitations. Oh, there have been a few, but the number of opportunities to gather, celebrate and mark the milestones of life have been few and far between this year. Graduation invitations, wedding invitations, birthday party invitations and now the early holiday […]
Rustlings (August 17, 2020)
Hold on Loosely—the 1981 rock hit by 38 Special—was blaring on my radio as I drove to work this morning. I bobbed my head, rhythmically patted the steering wheel, and mentally concurred with the good bit of advice. We tend to hold more tightly during a crisis. If we are falling on our bikes, riding […]