2020 has been a time of significant challenges and change for many people and organizations. Places of worship are no exception. Austin Oaks Church in Austin, Tx, has faced multiple hurdles preparing to resume indoor worship services. Like most public gathering places, Austin Oaks canceled in-person services in mid-March in…

When we allow ourselves to open up to the heartache and distress of others, our ego and attachments fall away, at least for the time being. This morning I had fallen into a familiar quagmire of self-doubt and was spiraling towards the destructive “why bother?” attitude.

For too long, the masculine archetypes of power, strength, and logic have dominated the feminine expressions of empathy, creativity, and intuition. The signs of this toxic relationship can be seen all around us. For many of us, “Father Time” rules our lives. We are bound by schedules, deadlines, and alarm…

We are always preparing. Spiritual practice. Physical training. Mental study. We are told that practice makes perfect. But is this mindset of perpetual practice keeping us from seeing the perfection of this moment? What if instead of preparing for enlightenment, we realized enlightenment now? Is so much seeking standing in…

So many of us are addicted to complaining. It’s great fun to complain about things. We get to be right. We feel validated. When I hear someone telling a complaining story, I can’t wait to top them with a more outrageous complaining story. I don’t think that all of this…

Here I am again. Drifting away so I can crash upon Your shores. Getting lost so I can once again be found. The waves that batter me feel like Your tender hands. The birds circling overhead are Your watchful eyes. You never look away. The sun burns my skin and…

We are always looking. Everywhere. We look for God in the glowing approval of our neighbors when they see our perfect lawn. Is God in this new car? Perhaps He’s hiding in a new house. We look for God in a stranger’s kiss at 2 am. Are you there? Is…

We live in a day and age where avoiding people is considered kind. For the past few days, I’ve been taking different meandering routes whenever I walk my dog, Gibson. I’ve been purposely avoiding the usual places where I bump into my friendly, chatty neighbors. Recently, my wife, Nicolette, was…